On the Ottawa Senators …
Murray Pam: Erik Karlsson on all the trade speculation: “It’s true. It happened (Gretzky was traded). By no means I’m not even anywhere close to that. I’m not sure why a parallel has been drawn to that.”
Ken Warren of the Ottawa Sun: Erik Karlsson on where he stands in the organization.
“No, nothing at all (has changed),” Karlsson said when asked about general manager Pierre Dorion’s comments Thursday that Wayne Gretzky was once traded and that he would at least listen to trade offers for Karlsson before the Feb. 26 trade deadline.
“I’m an Ottawa Senator. I’ve been here for nine years. I’ve given everything I possibly have into this organization and this steam and I’m going to keep doing that,” he said.
Karlsson said he is surprised there has been so much trade speculation and says it’s out of his control. He not eligible to sign a contraction extension until after July 1st.
“We’re at the bottom of the league and not doing a good job here and my contract is about to be up here and discussions are going to be made,” he said. “It’s not something I can control and I’m going to do the job that I feel like I have done as long as I’ve been here to be successful and whatever happens, it’s not going to be my decision.”
On the Calgary Flames …
Eric Francis of Sportsnet: Sure the Flames could use someone like Max Pacioretty or Mike Hoffman to improve their top-nine forwards, but at what cost?
Francis wonders if defenseman Erik Karlsson is made available, could he be a fit for the Flames and what would it cost them?
What if they offered Adam Fox, goalie prospect Jon Gillies or Tyler Parsons, and defensive prospect Rasmus Andersson or Oliver Kylington? Would the Senators be interested in that type of package or would they need to include a roster player as well?
The Flames have the salary cap space this year to add him. Forward Mikael Backlund is a pending free agent and could require a deal around $6 million per season.