On the Ottawa Senators, Erik Karlsson, Zack Smith and their first-round draft pick …
Darren Dreger: Believe that the Senators are listening to trade offers on Erik Karlsson and Zack Smith.
Chris Nichols of FRS Hockey: Bob McKenzie was on TSN 1040 and notes that the Ottawa Senators have been saying that they will make the No. 4 pick this year, therefore sending their 2019 first-round pick to the Colorado Avalanche. That could end up being the first-overall pick and a shot a Jack Hughes, a potential generational talent.
“It’s an interesting time for the Ottawa Senators. And I agree with you, I think they’re going to trade Karlsson. They’ve got to get the right offer. It’s not a gun to their head where the deal has got to be done by the draft, but it would make sense to do it by the draft.”
McKenzie adds that at the deadline they were saying they were listening but not trying to trade Karlsson. They are back to listening and their ability to re-sign has become “difficult at best.” McKenzie continues that with a year left on his deal, the Senators “should be able to get a haul for Karlsson.”
Chris Nichols of FRS Hockey: Darren Dreger was on TSN and said it’s become more likely that the Erik Karlsson is traded by the Senators.
“But the bigger fish is Erik Karlsson,” noted Dreger after sharing his thoughts on how a Hoffman trade might play out this week. “And the more that we dig around this story, the more that the planets are starting to align that Erik Karlsson could be traded. Again, I wouldn’t suggest that that’s for sure going to happen. Pierre Dorion is listening to the interest. And I just feel like somebody is going to make an offer to the Ottawa Senators that Pierre Dorion and the Sens aren’t going to be able to walk away from.”
If you are the Ottawa Senators and you plan on trading Erik Karlsson before the draft, when do you give the Avalanche the first-round pick?
— Mark Easson (@myNHLTradeRumor) June 19, 2018