Over the past few days, it seemed like a trade for all-world defenseman Erik Karlsson was imminent. Originally, the Dallas Stars were confirmed to be the leader in the race and deep in talks with the Ottawa Senators on a deal for Karlsson. Not long after, it was the Tampa Bay Lightning who had reportedly pulled ahead and had a deal in place with Ottawa that simply required a third team to take on salary. Some even stated that a deal was done pending a trade call, a rumor that obviously lacked reliability. Karlsson remains a Senator and it now seems like a trade is not coming as quickly as expected.
The Athletic’s Joe Smith, who has had his finger on the pulse of the Lightning’s trade talks, is no longer optimistic about a deal getting done. Smith writes that a deal for Karlsson should not be expected any time soon and that nothing is “imminent or close”. Smith admits that a trade could still work out between Ottawa and Tampa, but it’s no longer the foregone conclusion that some had perceived. Meanwhile the Stars are rumored to have fallen out of favor when they refused to include star blue line prospect Miro Heiskanen in a deal for Karlsson. Sportsnet’s John Shannon believes that the Stars still have a chance to land Karlsson, but it seems that Dallas’ chances depend on whether or not they can be flexible with their offer.
The Senators now have a feel for the market and should be able to work out a fair value for Karlsson soon. However, what isn’t so easy is accommodating their insistence on also sending away Bobby Ryan and his $7.25MM cap hit over four years remaining on his contract. Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston reports today that this is the exact reason that finding a trade partner and working out the details of a deal could prove difficult. A three-team deal, like the one contemplated by Ottawa and Tampa Bay, is the most likely outcome for a Karlsson trade, but such deals don’t develop overnight. A trade could still be a ways away – The Athletic’s Chris Stevenson says that the Lightning, Stars, and Vegas Golden Knights all remain in the running – but Stevenson also says that nothing is close as the Senators have “retrenched” and the suitors are playing hardball. It seems that whichever team is able to up the ante on their offer and also be creative in managing several major contracts will be the team to land Karlsson and change the face of their franchise.
VGK sends Miller, Eakin, Sizuki, a 2019 1st rd pick and 2020 2nd rd pick
Get Karlsson, Ryan and a 2020 3rd pick
the sens won’t want to take back salary and only get Suzuki and late picks.
Vegas won’t give up more to take back Ryan.
They can flip Miller or Eakin after a trade as well. I think that’s a fair trade both ways. Karlsson is a game changer not just on the ice but for what he will teach to VGK’s young defensemen. But your not getting the best prospects when you dropping a bad contract in the mix.
If Ottawa got anywhere close to that offer he would’ve been traded already. If Ryan is involved then OTT can get no more than Miller, Suzuki and maybe not even a 1st
Maybe if Ottawa stopped insisting on teams also taking Ryan’s contract, they could get a deal done. I don’t blame other teams for not wanting to give up high end prospects when they are taking on Ryan’s bad contract. If the Sens want the best return for Karlsson, take Ryan out of the equation
Eric they don’t though. They want the best return but their owner is a cheapskate who just wants to be around the floor this season.
That’s why a 3rd team like the rangers might be involved,,,,on a re-build , take on a bad contract with futures involved
yes exactly why no deal has got done. they figure we are giving up karlsson so give us a premium package oh but ryan has to be involved. A 3rd team taking Ryan will want a prospect or high pick back and the sens are hoping their original trading partner can supply that as they have nothing.
The Rangers are not taking on Bobby Ryan’s salary
If Ryan is included by the acquiring team-
No 1st round pick is going back to Ottawa.
Or they retain half his salary if so.
sens should just ring up joe sakic and say karlsson for Jost, Girard and the sens own 1st. that way when they suck they get a chance at Hughes.
I think Dorion is going to be hesitant to deal with the Avalanche on a big trade again since most people believe that Sakic fleeced Nashville and Ottawa.
Like it matters Ottawa is gonna be Quebec soon lol
Probably wouldn’t happen but maybe it should. I have no idea if the league could force an ownership change/transfer but something’s gotta happen, the situation is a disaster.
I don’t think the league can force an ownership change unless Melnyk does something extremely bad/controversial (like Donald Sterling or Jerry Richardson, former NBA and NFL owners respectively). It would also likely require approval from the other owners and I’m sure Melnyk is buddies with enough of the owners to make sure he isn’t pushed out.
There’s no way the team is leaving Ottawa. There’s people who want to own a franchise and Melnyk isn’t coughing up the 650 million relocation fee plus other expenses
There’s no 650 million relocation fee
What a mess! Ownership through to the GM, does anyone have a clue!? Why not focus on Ryan, move him in a separate transaction and go from there.
thats just it. this us not a bad team, just a poor organization. Melnyks finances started going down so he penny pinched the front office and that failed so now he is penny pinching on player salaries. The league however approved the financing of the debt however so he isn’t going anywhere soon unless he sells.
The reason the Sens are trying to force a team to take Ryan in a Karlsson trade is that nobody will take Ryan’s bad contract.
Nobody wants Ryan’s contract on its own unless Ottawa is sending significant assets back (or takes on a bad contract themselves). While the front office does deserve some blame, you do have to wonder how badly Melnyk’s penny pinching restricts the front office. At the end of the day, GMs have to get approval from their owners for the deals they are giving out so who knows if Melnyk has shot down deals because of finances.
Stars need to pass. Go call about Skinner.
A Norris trophy winner and Jeff Skinner aren’t the same.
Obviously, they don’t even play the same position.Dallas needs a 6 forward way more than a RD. Skinner will cost less salary and assets too. He’s a better fit for the team.. Karlsson and SeguinDoesHockey extension would put them right up against the Cap with little room to improve the team and they would still have a glaring hole at 2C
Faksa is terrific but he’s perfectly suited for a 3rd line shutdown role. He’s one of the best in the league at what he does but I don’t know if he can produce enough offense to be a 2C on a cup contender
Why are my blue jackets included in this article when they aren’t even mentioned?
Sens need to realize the Ryan contract is stuck on them. If they can conduct a trade for EK that brings back cheap, young and proven talent that would offset the cost of Ryan’s contract, I’d think they’ve achieved success.