Senators not in a rush with Karlsson
Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: It doesn’t appear that the Ottawa Senators have any trade imminent with defenseman Erik Karlsson. The Senators are remaining patient with any decision regarding their captain.
It also doesn’t sound like they were close to any Karlsson trade in July when a couple selected teams were given permission to speak with Karlsson’s camp about a potential extension.
Sources say the Senators had made Karlsson an eight-year contract extension offer at over $80 million.
Karlsson is expected to show up at training camp on September 13th if he’s not traded by then. If he is traded, Senators GM Pierre Dorion can’t give him away and the deal has to be right for the organization.
The Vegas Golden Knights, Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars and San Jose Sharks are believed to be among the five or six teams that remain interested in Karlsson.
Garrioch wonders if the Anaheim Ducks and the Vancouver Canucks would become interested at some point as they have the assets to get a deal done and it could take their team(s) to another level.
Some Canucks could be on waivers if they don’t have a good camp
JD Burke of The Athletic: The Vancouver Canucks will be having some roster battles in camp and some players could find themselves on waivers – Nikolay Goldobin, Markus Granlund, Brendan Leipsic, Brendan Gaunce and Ben Hutton. GM Jim Benning has been willing to create space for younger players if need be.
“Whoever comes in and has a good camp and deserves to be here, they’re going to be here, and we’re going to figure out a way to — through trades… if guys win jobs, that’s a good problem to have,” Benning said.
