I personally think the return for Erik Karlsson will be extremely underwhelming when its all said and done be it to Tampa, Vegas, San Jose, insert team here. All the GMs know the situation that Ottawa has, I think its clear that Karlsson wants out and Ottawa have basically given him the leverage to choose his team by allowing him to negotiate contracts with interested teams. He can basically say I won't extend with team A, B, C but I will extend for team D. Then Ottawa will try to maximize their return with team D. Without a guarantee for a renewal most teams would rather wait until the trade deadline next year then trade for him now knowing he would go to FA but it seems Ottawa needs to make this move now and can't wait.

I would love him to come to Tampa but he would have to take a discount to do so, I personally don't think it will happen. But if his goal is to win the Bolts are his best chance to win now but he would need to shave 2M off his 11M asking price as thats the only way the Bolts could take him. The Bolts have the prospects to make a deal, the pipeline is deep.

Its going to be interesting no matter how it goes down.
- stammerman

Couple that with taking on Bobby Ryan, and you really can’t expect much

Reports stated that Anderson had never asked for a trade.
- spatso

thats a direct quote from his agent reported by Bruce Garrioch. I dont know how you can dispute that. Thats as close as coming from Anderson as you can get

Let me be clear, i don’t want Karlsson via trade, I want him as a UFA..but for arguments sake what would you want from the Rangers? Ryan kills the value of him by himself, hope you tealize that
- Slimtj100

Karlsson is apparently going now and teams have been authorized to discuss his long term contract demands. He will go to the team he wants to go to. i assume Ottawa's ask is a team's top prospect.

My guess is Karlsson and Ottawa will probably both choose Tampa. Yzerman wants to win now and he has so many cards to play that he should be able to meet Ottawa's expectations. Does he move McDonagh and use those assets to sweeten the offer for Karlsson? Hard to figure the McDonagh extension from yesterday. Wonder what the Leafs or a few other teams looking for D might give up for McDonagh?

I personally think the return for Erik Karlsson will be extremely underwhelming when its all said and done be it to Tampa, Vegas, San Jose, insert team here. All the GMs know the situation that Ottawa has, I think its clear that Karlsson wants out and Ottawa have basically given him the leverage to choose his team by allowing him to negotiate contracts with interested teams. He can basically say I won't extend with team A, B, C but I will extend for team D. Then Ottawa will try to maximize their return with team D. Without a guarantee for a renewal most teams would rather wait until the trade deadline next year then trade for him now knowing he would go to FA but it seems Ottawa needs to make this move now and can't wait.

I would love him to come to Tampa but he would have to take a discount to do so, I personally don't think it will happen. But if his goal is to win the Bolts are his best chance to win now but he would need to shave 2M off his 11M asking price as thats the only way the Bolts could take him. The Bolts have the prospects to make a deal, the pipeline is deep.

Its going to be interesting no matter how it goes down.
- stammerman

Hedman-Karlsson would be just unbelievable to roll out. Best pairing since who? MacInnis-Pronger?

Hedman-Karlsson would be just unbelievable to roll out. Best pairing since who? MacInnis-Pronger?
- Blazed

Oh I forgot Pronger-Niedermayer for the Ducks, jesus that was a good pairing.

Hedman-Karlsson would be just unbelievable to roll out. Best pairing since who? MacInnis-Pronger?
- Blazed

If he can get Karlsson and keep McDonagh next year the Bolts roll out

Hedman-Karlsson-McDonagh-Stralaman-Sergachev (Hot Damn, too good to be true, I don't see it happening but I can dream)

My 83 year old grandfather loves Erik Karlsson, got his autograph when he was at the ASG in January. I was with him Sunday when Toronto got Tavares, he said to me well if Yzerman can pull Karlsson then the hockey world will forever know Yzerman is playing chess while the rest are playing checkers. Love that old man, sorry just a little funny anecdote to all of this.

thats a direct quote from his agent reported by Bruce Garrioch. I dont know how you can dispute that. Thats as close as coming from Anderson as you can get
- DDM-Coga

Go back and read the quote. Most people interpreted his comments as saying it was Ottawa doing what they want to do. Several reporters stated that he was angry that Dorion had indicated that Anderson had asked for a trade. Now, it could be that he was angry that Dorion told the truth and let the cat out of the bag. But, I understood the original reporting as saying his agent was denying that Anderson made the request.

When looking at Ottawa media remember that Garrioch is an extension of the Sens public relations department. He does tend to distort everything in favour of Sens management. Even worse, he may be the only friend that Melnyk still has in the city of Ottawa.

Oh I forgot Pronger-Niedermayer for the Ducks, jesus that was a good pairing.
- Blazed

maybe Lidstrom-Rafalski as well in the past 25 years

This situation makes me more sad day by day. Just get it (frank)ing done. Re-sign or trade, then at least the waiting is over. This is terrible for us fans, let alone for Karlsson.

(frank)ing incompetent twats

maybe Lidstrom-Rafalski as well in the past 25 years
- stammerman

I've never seen any of the old timers play, but I can't put anyone above Bobby Orr. Having said that Lidstrom is the best defenseman I've ever seen play in my life.

If he can get Karlsson and keep McDonagh next year the Bolts roll out

Hedman-Karlsson-McDonagh-Stralaman-Sergachev (Hot Damn, too good to be true, I don't see it happening but I can dream)

My 83 year old grandfather loves Erik Karlsson, got his autograph when he was at the ASG in January. I was with him Sunday when Toronto got Tavares, he said to me well if Yzerman can pull Karlsson then the hockey world will forever know Yzerman is playing chess while the rest are playing checkers. Love that old man, sorry just a little funny anecdote to all of this.
- stammerman

It would not be fair for the Lightning to get Karlsson and I would hope that the league would step in and block the trade because of reasons and stuff.

It would not be fair for the Lightning to get Karlsson and I would hope that the league would step in and block the trade because of reasons and stuff.
- Atomic Wedgie

I can see the reasoning...

If he can get Karlsson and keep McDonagh next year the Bolts roll out

Hedman-Karlsson-McDonagh-Stralaman-Sergachev (Hot Damn, too good to be true, I don't see it happening but I can dream)

My 83 year old grandfather loves Erik Karlsson, got his autograph when he was at the ASG in January. I was with him Sunday when Toronto got Tavares, he said to me well if Yzerman can pull Karlsson then the hockey world will forever know Yzerman is playing chess while the rest are playing checkers. Love that old man, sorry just a little funny anecdote to all of this.
- stammerman

Great story and Gramps is absolutely correct. If Karlsson ends up in Tampa Yzerman will look like a genius. But, I think the piece it will cost him is Sergachev. Most guys would hesitate to do that deal. But, it is what makes Yzerman a little different. He will do the high stakes deal and know he can make it up later. He wants to win the Cup next year and he is so rich in assets he can squeeze everyone else out of the game.

I've never seen any of the old timers play, but I can't put anyone above Bobby Orr. Having said that Lidstrom is the best defenseman I've ever seen play in my life.
- Blazed

Lidstrom is the reason for Hedman, Karlsson, OEL, Klingenberg, Kronwall, Edler, Stralman, the list go on, now Dahlin. Kinda crazy when you look at it.

Some of you might remember that last year when Ottawa played with the idea of trading Karlsson two teams (Tampa and Los Angeles) begged Dorion to hold off until summer so that they could get in on the bidding. I see Tampa as the team that can make it happen if Yzerman wants to. He is loaded with quality assets. Are the LA Kings completely out? Not so sure.

Great story and Gramps is absolutely correct. If Karlsson ends up in Tampa Yzerman will look like a genius. But, I think the piece it will cost him is Sergachev. Most guys would hesitate to do that deal. But, it is what makes Yzerman a little different. He will do the high stakes deal and know he can make it up later. He wants to win the Cup next year and he is so rich in assets he can squeeze everyone else out of the game.
- spatso

I actually think he can do it without giving up Sergachev, the prospect pool is so deep he could give Cal Foote and Taylor Raddysh. I think that is totally comparable to Sergachev, but even so I don't know what leverage Ottawa has in this situation if Karlsson says I will only re-sign with Tampa. It will be interesting no matter what happens. I would love to see him in Tampa, but I will still say it wont happen until Bob, Elliott, or Pierre tweet that it really has happened. Lol.

For the sake of argument after my rant, what would it take for a Tampa/Ottawa deal?

We have to take in Callahan and Killorn, so that would mean the additional assets would have to be quite significant.

I've never seen any of the old timers play, but I can't put anyone above Bobby Orr. Having said that Lidstrom is the best defenseman I've ever seen play in my life.
- Blazed

I’m biased, but Leetch was the closest thing to Karlsson that I can remember. With the puck on their sticks it’s almost like the same player.

I actually think he can do it without giving up Sergachev, the prospect pool is so deep he could give Cal Foote and Taylor Raddysh. I think that is totally comparable to Sergachev, but even so I don't know what leverage Ottawa has in this situation if Karlsson says I will only re-sign with Tampa. It will be interesting no matter what happens. I would love to see him in Tampa, but I will still say it wont happen until Bob, Elliott, or Pierre tweet that it really has happened. Lol.
- stammerman

The report is some teams have been authorized to talk with Karlsson. My guess is teams had to show some of their cards to be authorized to conduct discussions. I assume Dorion already has a good idea what are the offers from those respective teams.

For the sake of argument after my rant, what would it take for a Tampa/Ottawa deal?

We have to take in Callahan and Killorn, so that would mean the additional assets would have to be quite significant.
- DutchSenators

If the trade is straight up for Karlsson (no Ryan contract attached) then the Bolts don't need Ottawa to take any cap back, they can move Callahan or Coburn to make the extra 2 million or buy one of those guys out in worst case scenario. I have no idea what the return would be but Tampa has a ton of good prospects. They have legitimately 6-8 NHL ready players in the next year sitting in Syracuse who haven't cracked the Tampa lineup.

If they have to take Ryan's contract then I am not so sure what it would take, but the return would be less then a straight up trade for Karlsson.

For the sake of argument after my rant, what would it take for a Tampa/Ottawa deal?

We have to take in Callahan and Killorn, so that would mean the additional assets would have to be quite significant.
- DutchSenators

I think the ask is Sergachev plus pieces. Chabot and Sergachev is not bad to build your D around.

To many of the Lightning players have no trade clauses. Hypothetically, I would do something like Johnson, Foote, Callahan, Raddysh or Katchouk, and a second or something like that if we knew Karlsson would resign. Not sure if that's to much or not enough for him. Johnson and Callahan would have to want to go to Ottawa though, so I dont see a deal like that going through.

Even still, if Yzerman is able to trade for Karlsson, that would be insane. Getting him would make the Lightning the favorites to win the cup, but it would make it that much harder to find space to sign Kucherov, Point, and Vasi. But if he was able to trade for him, and sign everyone, theres no doubt that a core of Stamkos, Kucherov, Point, Hedman, Karlsson, McDonaugh, Sergachev, and Vasi would be the best in the NHL.

I think the ask is Sergachev plus pieces. Chabot and Sergachev is not bad to build your D around.
- spatso

You seriously expect Sergachev and trade Ryan at the same time?

Some of you might remember that last year when Ottawa played with the idea of trading Karlsson two teams (Tampa and Los Angeles) begged Dorion to hold off until summer so that they could get in on the bidding. I see Tampa as the team that can make it happen if Yzerman wants to. He is loaded with quality assets. Are the LA Kings completely out? Not so sure.
- spatso

Sens would have to take back salary. Can I interest you in Dion back+?

I’m biased, but Leetch was the closest thing to Karlsson that I can remember. With the puck on their sticks it’s almost like the same player.
- Slimtj100

Leetch definitely was a hell of a player, I was so pumped when Toronto got him I really thought that 03-04 Leafs team had the stuff to go all the way.

Sundin, Mogilny, Roberts, Francis, Nieuwendyk, Nolan(missed playoffs), Tucker, Leetch, McCabe, Kaberle etc.


I've hated Roenick ever since.