On the Ottawa Senators and Erik Karlsson …
Ken Warren of the Ottawa Citizen: Karlsson when asked about why he picked the puck out of the net after their last home game of the season.
“I don’t know why I did it,” Karlsson said after the game. “It was just laying there and I didn’t really think about it (being the last home game) and I didn’t really think that you guys would ever think about that even, but there’s a lot of cameras out there.”
The Senators plan to offer Karlsson a contract extension, but will it before eight years and between $80 and $100 million? He could get that much elsewhere.
The Senators also need hold contract extension talks with Mark Stone and Matt Duchene this offseason as well.
If it becomes apparent that they won’t be able to sign Karlsson, they need to explore all trade options.
Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen: Vegas Golden Knights, Tampa Bay Lightning, San Jose Sharks and Washington Capitals had made trade offers to the Senators for Erik Karlsson at the trade deadline.
It’s believed that Karlsson’s camp will be looking for an eight-year contract extension worth between $80 and $100 million
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Darren Dreger was on TSN 690 and was talking about Erik Karlsson fishing the puck out of the net after their last home game. Karlsson had to at some point towards the game decide that he was going to collect it.
“Not to say that he is done done with the Ottawa Senators, but he’s certainly not taking any chances.”
Bob McKenzie was on TSN 1040 talking about Karlsson as well. The Senators are going to try and re-sign him after July 1st, but they are also going to listen to offers beforehand like they did at the trade deadline. They may not get better offers than they did at the deadline. If they can’t re-sign him, then they have to look at the trade options.
“But assuming that there are more suitors for him and that maybe the price they get between now and the draft will be greater than what they got at the deadline, it’s certainly within the realm of possibility.
“I think he picked up the puck because he realized it might be. It’s not absolutely, 100 percent guaranteed that he’s gone and he’ll never play another game for the Senators, but there’s a chance – certainly a chance – that he won’t be back.”
