After the last few weeks have brought little in terms of trade speculation around the NHL, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet has sparked the fire again surrounding Erik Karlsson of the Ottawa Senators. Friedman tweets that trade talks involving the superstar defenseman have picked up recently, with Western Conference destinations—potentially including the Vancouver Canucks—as the most likely. West teams like the Vegas Golden Knights and Dallas Stars had previously been linked to Karlsson, though it’s unclear if they’re included in the recent discussions.
For Vancouver the acquisition of Karlsson would seem unlikely, given that the team is still rebuilding and there is no guarantee that the Senators defenseman would be open to an extension. Iain MacIntyre of Sportsnet tweets that Quinn Hughes, Brock Boeser, Elias Pettersson are all completely off the table for the Canucks, making it hard to imagine a package strong enough to beat any other contender for Karlsson’s services. Interestingly MacIntyre does not mention top prospect Olli Juolevi, though that doesn’t necessarily mean he would be available.
There are obviously dozens of other teams in the NHL who would be interested in Karlsson, though many of them won’t be able to afford an extension that could push towards Drew Doughty’s eight-year $88MM contract. Ottawa would likely receive the biggest return from a team that can immediately extend Karlsson, but that could also dramatically reduce their trading partners. The Golden Knights have the prospect capital and cap space to fit a star like Karlsson in, and the Colorado Avalanche have a trade chip that no one else in the league can match. That’s the Senators own first-round pick this season, acquired in the Matt Duchene trade from last season. After Ottawa chose to keep their 2018 pick and select Brady Tkachuk, they had to give up the 2019 pick and a potential opportunity at top prospect Jack Hughes. With the Senators expected to struggle this season—especially if Karlsson departs—the Avalanche could easily be holding a top-three pick in their pocket. For what it’s worth, Adrian Dater of BSN Denver isn’t hearing any connection with the Avalanche and Karlsson.
The Tampa Bay Lightning were the other team strongly linked to Karlsson in the past, and it’s unclear if they still pose a threat to acquire the defenseman. That would require Tampa Bay moving out other salary, but would make them an absolute powerhouse in the Eastern Conference and the favorite for a Stanley Cup Finals appearance. All of the other teams in the Atlantic Division will be hoping that the Senators’ captain heads out west and signs a long-term contract to stay out of their way.
Yes, Vancouver seems like the most natural fit. The team is overflowing with talent, quality management, a history of signing great contracts, and are just one piece away from cup contention. Also the Earth is flat.
I’m not a Canucks fan, but from a distance it does appear they are building a solid team and have lots of prospects to make a deal of this magnitude and cap space to sign him to an extension. Juolevi, Petterson, or Hughes could all be highly regarded by Ottawa. Its not as crazy as it sounds. I’d have to think that any trade would be contingent on Karlsson agreeing to an extension first.
the canucks make sense if he is wiĺling to sign an extension. they have some nice forward system depth and could use a d man in karlsson to pair with Hughes for years.
As for Colorado, I felt back in June that the sens only offer with the Avs has to include their own number one back. that being said there likely isn’t a young d man the sens would be able to pry lose that would appease them.
Good from afar, far from good.
The Canucks by default of picking so high the last 4 years have accumulated some interesting talent. They’re still poorly managed, poorly coached, and their salary cap situation is comical given how little talent they actually have.
Lol! Love it, ByeTheNumbers.
GO LEAFS GO!!!!
Yes
I have thought from the get go Colorado will be the landing spot, and I am still there. Playing with free money having Ottawa’s first.
Canucks lol,I don’t care but Colorado seems to have the near future of winning to sign an extension and just enough Talent
As an Avs fan I have mixed emotions about Karlsson (Will his ankle stay healthy? Would you be paying for several declining years?) but am always surprised that they’re hardly mentioned in these rumors. The Avs and only the Avs hold the one piece that Ottawa ostensibly wants more than anything else which is also the one piece that would make a Karlsson trade somewhat palatable to their fanbase. They also have the 4th largest amount of Cap space of any team in the league. Yet we constantly hear how Vegas or Dallas are best suited to make a trade.
Incidentally, the BSN Denver guys said on one of their podcasts that they were so sure a trade was in place over a weekend a few months ago that they were writing up the articles to be published. Given that Dater still has a pretty good relationship with Sakic I doubt they were making that up or imagining it.
Backes, Krug, Donato, JFK, Zorbil and two firsts. Only if he signs extension
I should be a GM of a minor league team on X-Box
For one, Ottawa isnt dealing in division let alone in conference unless they have to. For 2, that package is not close.
And i am not a Sens nor Karlsson fan.
I’m sure a cheap owner like melnyk would love an overpaid forward with concussion issues.
Would Karlsson re-sign in Vancouver? That seems like a long shot. Yes, the Canucks have some talented young players, but they are still in a re-build. I would think Karlsson would prefer to sign long-term with a team closer to winning.
the one thing that might give Vancouver a possibility at an extension is karlssons relationship with the Sedins. I’m sure if it got that far he would call them up to find out about the press, living conditions, teammates, etc. yes they may not be playing any longer but that history in the city would be a good reference point.