Karlsson may be looking to be closer to Ottawa
Don Brennan of the Ottawa Sun: A “well-connected source” has said that pending free agent defenseman Erik Karlsson is hopeful to receive competitive offers from the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens on July 1st.
Karlsson’s wife is from Ottawa and is getting homesick and would like to be closer to her family.
The source added that Toronto and Buffalo are close to Ottawa, but are not believed to be his list.
Elliotte Friedman said over the weekend that he believes in a week we should know if Karlsson’s going to test free agency or not.
The New York Rangers could make an offer. They have the cap space and he has some friends on the team.
The Tampa Bay Lightning would need to move some salaries out but could make an offer.
The Colorado Avalanche have over $37 million in salary cap space but are not in close proximity to Ottawa.
The Canadiens have over $11 million in salary cap space could be a good match, but have missed the playoffs three of the past four seasons. They also already two right-handed defensemen in Shea Weber and Jeff Petry.
Karlsson is approaching 30 and he’s had some recent injury issues. Getting a seven-year extension isn’t a guarantee anymore.
A competitive offer from the Senators could be enough to lure him back to Ottawa.
Eric Engels of Sportsnet: If Don Brennan’s report is true, the Montreal Canadiens must take a run at Erik Karlsson.
Karlsson is a superstar, and the Canadiens need superstars, even if it costs $11 million for seven years.
It shouldn’t matter if Shea Weber and Jeff Petry are right-handed and they have right-handed prospects Noah Juulsen, Josh Brook and Cale Fleury.
If the Canadiens want to move out some salaries, candidates could include Andrew Shaw, Paul Byron and Petry. Petry has 15-team no-movement clause and two years left at a $5.5 million cap hit.
Shaw or Bryon might help land a needed left-handed defenseman. Petry might net a Grade A prospect or a first round pick if dangled as a rental player in a year.