When the end of the San Jose Sharks season came, the biggest question immediately became ’what would happen to Erik Karlsson?’ The star defenseman is a free agent this summer, but was limited by injury at the end of the year and comes with plenty of question marks, including the draft pick compensation San Jose would need to send Ottawa if he re-signed. Karlsson tweeted out a cryptic thank you to the San Jose area, and immediately many started speculating that it would be the end of his time there. Speculation erupted, with landing spots like New York and Tampa Bay seeming the most likely.
Now in a new column, Don Brennan of the Ottawa Sun suggests the unthinkable—a return to the Senators. Brennan reports that a source tells him Karlsson “hopes to receive competitive offers” from the Senators and Montreal Canadiens, in order to get closer to his wife Melinda’s family who are in Ottawa. That would certainly be a shocking development, given how Karlsson exited the Senators organization last summer and the way they have failed to sign any top talent over the years.
- Rumors have surfaced lately that Taylor Hall isn’t interested in signing an extension with the New Jersey Devils, but his agent Darren Ferris threw some cold water on that when speaking with Mike Morreale of NHL.com. Ferris called the report “fictitious” while Devils GM Ray Shero also doesn’t know where it came from, given his recent conversations with the Hall camp. Still, both admit that there is no rush to sign a deal despite their regular communication and that Hall won’t feel pressure when he is eligible for a deal on July 1.
- A report out of Finland from Sasha Huttunen has the Columbus Blue Jackets signing Veini Vehvilainen in the coming days, though obviously nothing is official just yet. Vehvilainen is a 22-year old goaltending prospect that the Blue Jackets drafted last year with a sixth-round pick, who dominated Finland’s Liiga for the second straight season. The report notes that the young goaltender could return to Finland to continue his development on a loan from the Blue Jackets, which makes sense given the number of netminders already under contract with the team in the minor leagues.
EK65 must really hate Toronto if he won’t even consider going there. It wouldn’t quite be as close as Ottawa or Montreal to his wife’s family, but the Leafs are ready to win for the next little while. If he gets himself healthy he would surely help Toronto vie for a title. Him considering Toronto would also throw another wrench into TO’s already buggered cap situation. My point is mostly about how EK65 rumours never involve the Maple Leafs. His right to choose, I guess.
EK65 even *considering* The Canadian Tire Centre Tire Fire??? Better to go to the Habs, EK!
He might be saying this to the media intentionally to try and motivate Toronto.. I mean who knows why the rumours are created. I’m sure he’d consider Toronto if their offer was competitive.
dont buy the rumours with ottawa at all. karlsson will not go back to play for Melnyk. Montreal could be an option but the sens… come on.
as for the leafs, how do they fit a guy who, even if he takes a discount will get 8.5 – 9 million next season.
How about Buffalo? They are close! Then they can move Risto
… and why would any EK65 rumours have to include TO? Typical Leafs fan, thinking every single free agent wants to go to LaffLand. Jeeze, you couldn’t even afford him to begin with! Wake up, the Laffs are not the center if the hockey world, unless you live there and are oblivious to the realities of the real world! Lol, you people make me laugh …
Do the Maple Leaves not have a salary cap?! Get a clue.
Jeezus fellas! You must have lousy lives that you need this avenue to make yourselves feel better. I stated (CLEARLY) that it would be difficult capwise. My comment was based solely on the article stating that EK65 possibly wanted to be closer to his wife’s family and to play for a contender. Do the Maple Leafs not fit both those criteria? I don’t believe I said I wanted EK65 on the Leafs, did I? He’s a great player when healthy, but I’m worried his days of being healthy are behind him. Please feel free to add more LOGICAL thoughts to this thread. There’s no need to attack anyone.
@tmlmikey, no where does the article mention his desire to play for a contender. Not to mention the leafs may not be contenders once they solve their cap issues and resign Marner. That defense is still a train wreck and their depth is going to be questionable once committing so much money to their big 3. They just came off a really good season, but to label them contenders before the roster is set is questionable.
Leafs are pretenders!!!
They cannot afford the ones they need to sign. In order for Leafs to secure Marner, they need to ship out Marleau, Zaitsev. Talk is Connor Brown, Nylander, Gardiner, and or Kapenen could also be moved. They would even realistically have to move Kadri if EK is being considered. So as for the Leafs being ‘ready now’ with this enormous amount of transition, on top of an eventual acknowledgement that they need to focus on GOALTENDING, these Leafs are NOT READY…not by a long shot.