What else can Karlsson say in this situation? He's not going to say he wants to leave, that would just hurt the team even more.
- david22

NHL players always tell similar lies.

In this case though, I actually believe he would like to stay, if it were not for the current situation and not too bright future at the moment. At some point, he just has to try to get to a better situation and he has earned the right to do so.

spoken like a true leaf fan



your mama would be proud
- homiedclown

Perhaps you should go take another look at the team listed under his name.....

EK's ankle problem might also be a reason some teams arent prepared to completely mortgage their future to obtain him. Could be Forsberg 2.0

He's said it before that, but he also said it at the end of the year after he picked up the puck in the final game. While the Hoffman's gf stuff was going on and after the loss of his son.
- Maverick1818

Ottawa already has a strong prospect pool. If they can add 2 or 3 nice pieces now the future gets even brighter. Rebuilding teams come back very quickly when they commit to the full rebuild. Veteran cap teams (Washington and Pittsburgh) win Stanley Cups. But they needed tear downs to build their base.

Whatever is happening now we know it is all about an owner in crisis. Everyone just needs to step back and allow him to unravel. He has very little leverage left and even less money.

Karlsson clearly lied to the media and fans when he said "I want to stay here long term"

Lots of things can be blamed on EM or a few others, I for one want PD fired. But Karlsson being unloyal and wanting out despite the team making every attempt to making him happy.... That's on Karlsson.
- Maverick1818

Would you seriously still want to stay with the org right now? I don't blame him one bit. Plus things change, just a year ago I'm sure he was over the moon with where the team was heading.

EK's ankle problem might also be a reason some teams arent prepared to completely mortgage their future to obtain him. Could be Forsberg 2.0
- Holy_Makinaw99

You clearly didn't watch him at the end of the season, he was fully recovered. This is a non-issue.

You clearly didn't watch him at the end of the season, he was fully recovered. This is a non-issue.
- Trevor Shackles

Trevor your doing a fine job.

Yes Tamps is doing okay this year, It's next year where they are in big trouble.

Having to give huge raises to Point, Kuch, Gourde, Stralman, Coburn, Girardi, KoekKoek and a few others.

Then Callahan, Sergachev and both goalies the year after.... I don't see how that's possible to stay under the cap, Adding $11+ Million an year and possibly Ryan is impossible without tons of cap getting shipped out.

Fair enough, if EM sells the team today, Karlsson resigns. What if he hired people to run it and just stepped back as owner? Would Karlsson resign?

The point is mute, doesn't matter who the owner is the facts are the team has shipped out Hoffman for nothing to make Karlsson happy and made Karlsson and offer.

And the fact is Karlsson clearly lied to the entire fan base when he said he wants to stay here... If he wanted to he would have signed or at least negotiated July 1st.

I don't see how that is anything other than a huge betrayal
- Maverick1818

Why would Yzerman worry about extending half of these guys like Coburn, Girardi & Callahan. He can bridge the RFA's & chances are a few of these RFAs will be in a package heading to you guys for Karlsson. Your post makes no sense. Kucherov will be the biggest challenge & if that means he trades Stralman, whatever.

Time to inform Karlsson and his agent that the offers for him are too low and that the trade will not happen anytime soon. Tell the other GM's that the trade window is closed and that Karlsson will play the year in Ottawa.

Get on with the upcoming season. Maybe they get back in the hunt, in which case Karlsson could chase a cup before cashing in. If they are out of contention by December, move him to a cup contender. Someone will overpay at the deadline if they think they can win now.

Let's be honest, all 30 other teams see the gong show that is the Ottawa Senators and they know that a single minded, cheapskate owner like Melnyk only wants to save money and does not care about the team, so they are low balling Karlsson's value with cheap and mediocre trade options.

I had hopes that Melnyk would see the logic in making the Sens better and 1) actually make Karlsson a serious offer so he would stay or 2) trade him when he could maximize the return, and not hobble the negotiations with nonsensical attempts to bundle Ryan in the trade. Does he honestly think this poor management will make the team any more valuable, or tempt more fans to go to Kanata to see the Sens in action?!

At this point I only want the misery to end and for the Sens to hit rock bottom so that they can start to rebuild.

Would you seriously still want to stay with the org right now? I don't blame him one bit. Plus things change, just a year ago I'm sure he was over the moon with where the team was heading.
- Trevor Shackles

The Leafs have now gone 18 years without winning a playoff round. During the same period we have had some exciting times in supporting the Sens.

I love Karlsson like everyone else including Stevie Y. I will have no difficulty cheering for Tampa in their Stanley Cup run. And I will have no difficulty getting excited for a young Sens roster, a new building and a new owner.

If the Sens land Sergachev in this deal ...I Will be content.

Why would Yzerman worry about extending half of these guys like Coburn, Girardi & Callahan. He can bridge the RFA's & chances are a few of these RFAs will be in a package heading to you guys for Karlsson. Your post makes no sense. Kucherov will be the biggest challenge & if that means he trades Stralman, whatever.
- Kevin R

correct. Yzerman is a sharp guy. maybe the on,y smater guy is JUlien Brisbois the Asst GM who helped Yzerman to put together this talent pool,

The Leafs have now gone 18 years without winning a playoff round. During the same period we have had some exciting times in supporting the Sens.

I love Karlsson like everyone else including Stevie Y. I will have no difficulty cheering for Tampa in their Stanley Cup run. And I will have no difficulty getting excited for a young Sens roster, a new building and a new owner.

If the Sens land Sergachev in this deal ...I Will be content.
- spatso

Problem is, the numbers do not work for tampa in 2020, even with Callahan and Johnson gone they would only have 13.5 mill cap with Kuch at 10.5 per and Karlsson at 10m per with only 11 player signed....with Dotchin and Point to sign too.

Ottawa already has a strong prospect pool. If they can add 2 or 3 nice pieces now the future gets even brighter. Rebuilding teams come back very quickly when they commit to the full rebuild. Veteran cap teams (Washington and Pittsburgh) win Stanley Cups. But they needed tear downs to build their base.

Whatever is happening now we know it is all about an owner in crisis. Everyone just needs to step back and allow him to unravel. He has very little leverage left and even less money.
- spatso

Good lord.

The Leafs have now gone 18 years without winning a playoff round. During the same period we have had some exciting times in supporting the Sens.

I love Karlsson like everyone else including Stevie Y. I will have no difficulty cheering for Tampa in their Stanley Cup run. And I will have no difficulty getting excited for a young Sens roster, a new building and a new owner.

If the Sens land Sergachev in this deal ...I Will be content.
- spatso

So you are doing your summer talk here now?

How did the seemingly endless summer talk work out for you last year?

Time to inform Karlsson and his agent that the offers for him are too low and that the trade will not happen anytime soon. Tell the other GM's that the trade window is closed and that Karlsson will play the year in Ottawa.

Get on with the upcoming season. Maybe they get back in the hunt, in which case Karlsson could chase a cup before cashing in. If they are out of contention by December, move him to a cup contender. Someone will overpay at the deadline if they think they can win now.
- jaz258

Then he walks for nothing like Tavares did.

AS everything stands right now, he is not staying in Ottawa, end of story. He wants out, every other team knows it.

They wont resign him, or they wouldn't be allowing other teams to negotiate contract.

If you take on Ryans contract the return is crappier than it already is, plus no team can afford that 7.5MM cap hit and an 11MM extension.

For Buffalo Example to make it all work, the Sens would have to take back Bogosian, Pominville and Okposo, just to equal out cap. The kicker is Melnyk only wanting to get to the cap floor and not spend a dime more. so he wouldn't take those players.

Ottawa is in a lose lose situation here.

Its early, someone will pay up. If not they hang onto him and some team will pay the same as offerings now at deadline . No worries really,it is what it is. Plus the added advantage to that is the sens might not be a bottom 5 team

Time to inform Karlsson and his agent that the offers for him are too low and that the trade will not happen anytime soon. Tell the other GM's that the trade window is closed and that Karlsson will play the year in Ottawa.

Get on with the upcoming season. Maybe they get back in the hunt, in which case Karlsson could chase a cup before cashing in. If they are out of contention by December, move him to a cup contender. Someone will overpay at the deadline if they think they can win now.
- jaz258

Might not be a bad strategy you're suggesting , but at this point I just want it to be over with.

Dorion has to take the best offer for the guy, and move on. It is a poopty situation for the organization.

Moving on is the better move in the long run. His next contract, especially for a budget team, is going to be crippling.

You guys will be better off.
- Aetherial

You sound like you're consoling you're buddy after his hot GF just dumped him.

Karlsson said he was committed to the Senators long term, but now he looks to be all but gone, Tavares said he was committed to the Islanders long term, and he's now with Toronto. Professional sports is a business and the athletes are essentially 'business" men! If there's one thing I've learned in life is that business men can look you in the eye and flat out lie to your face! Athletes, GM's and team owners are all professional liars and will tell you anything to get you to buy into the product they're trying to sell!

Might not be a bad strategy you're suggesting , but at this point I just want it to be over with.
- forbetterorWORSE

All of Karlsson's actions point to him have playing his last game in Ottawa. Picking the puck up, choosing not to play in the last 3 games.

The longer this drags on for Ottawa, the worse it gets.

All of Karlsson's actions point to him have playing his last game in Ottawa. Picking the puck up, choosing not to play in the last 3 games.

The longer this drags on for Ottawa, the worse it gets.
- ImThatGuy

I don't have a problem with the rest of what you said, but that is very incorrect.
His unborn child just passed !!

Karlsson said he was committed to the Senators long term, but now he looks to be all but gone, Tavares said he was committed to the Islanders long term, and he's now with Toronto. Professional sports is a business and the athletes are essentially 'business" men! If there's one thing I've learned in life is that business men can look you in the eye and flat out lie to your face! Athletes, GM's and team owners are all professional liars and will tell you anything to get you to buy into the product they're trying to sell!
- NewfieStud

Amen, In the future pro sports will be looked disdainfully upon. In terms of assets squandered. I still enjoy it , but its just an illusion to preoccupy our time and help us part with our hard earned dollars

Some guys are trying to rewrite history. It is true that Karlsson said last year he wanted to sign long term deal. BUT, Melnyk then tried to sell him at the deadline. Not realistic to ask him to be loyal and then try to sell him out.

I understand the frustration as described in the blog, but if Tampa offers up Cal Foote plus a couple of other pieces like Raddysh or Cirelli or Katchouk, plus picks, something like that, then take it and move on

Yeah, it sucks. But the reason the offers are low is because everybody knows that he's gonna walk at the end of the year and then you can sign him and not give up a thing.

I would be surprised if the offers got any better, tbh. There's no winning when you trade a player like that, in this circumstance