Sorry for the lack of a post yesterday about the 3-2 loss to Washington, but a malfunctioning PVR combined with a hectic Wednesday didn't allow me to see the game, or talk about it.
It was a 3-2 loss against a division leader (or at least a contender) in which Erik Karlsson, who a day earlier was at risk of not being a Senator any more, reached a milestone with his 500th point, coming on a goal from nearly an impossible angle over the shoulder of Phillip Grubauer.
Karlsson, who had been pretty quiet publicly in the days leading up to the deadline, finally spoke on Tuesday before the game
“I never wanted to leave. I never had any say in that. That’s a different part of the business I can’t control. Hearing your name being thrown around as much as it was is very stressful and not something that I enjoyed going through. I love it here, I’ve always loved it here. I think the city of Ottawa has really made it home for me. I love everything about it, I love the fans. I’m pleased with where I’m at and I signed a long-term deal for a reason.… (From Sportsnet.ca)
Of course, that is what the fan base wanted - or more yet needed - to hear.
I don't want to be a Debbie Downer, and I am sure it is all true about his love for the city, but whether that love extends to the franchise and more notably the owner (and just how much that love is reciprocated) is something that will not be seen until July.
Karlsson played this contract well above what he was earning, for the most part, this season aside. A Norris trophies and two runner ups since the contract kicked in is certainly value for the money he earned, when compared to his peers.
While Karlsson's comments came from the heart and are speaking the truth, they also set up the ultimate PR showdown, and couldn't have come at a better time in terms of swaying public opinion on his side.
A fan base ready to revolt, but also with the thought in the back of their minds that Karlsson might not want to come back on his new contract, was at its peak on the weekend and whether that was overblown by the media outlets looking for a story, there had to be some truth to it somewhere.
Now Karlsson has the Senators over a barrel. I argued before that trading him at the deadline, while a tough no-win situation might be the best thing for the long term, but now that he has come out with a simple 20 second statement, that makes it nearly impossible to deal him and not have the uprising among the fan base.
The blank cheque that I argued against because of his age at the time the extension will kick in, injury history and the Senators' position on the competitiveness curve might now have to be written, or at least the offer has to be competitive enough to not appear to be a low-ball.
Everyone remembers Zdeno Chara's departure, even if it is revisionist history and people refuse to remember how the dual offers to him and Wade Redden went down, and Chara simply decided to depart for more. That was 12 years ago and still is brought up to this day.
That will pale in comparison to the firestorm that will now develop if Karlsson is given a contract offer that is deemed too low and it becomes public (like it usually does).
Karlsson can sit back, wait for the offer and pretty much write his own ticket, whether that is in Ottawa for 8 years or elsewhere for 7. His comments Tuesday will be played over and over if it gets to July 2nd he hasn't re-signed and it becomes apparent that he will not get the offer he wants from Eugene and Pierre. That is assuming the "informal" discussions don't indicate that the Senators can't come close and they don't deal him prior to or at the entry draft.
That just shows how much smarter Karlsson is publicly than they guy who writes his cheques. While intended or not,whether possible or not, Karlsson's place in the court public opinion went even higher over the past week, while Melnyk's is at an all-time low. That will only get lower if Karlsson isn't a Senator come September, and Karlsson will get away scot free even if he chases the money elsewhere.
Pretty brilliant strategy for #65. It's no lose for him, and the only way the organization doesn't lose is to do everything and anything to keep him in the fold, even if it means drastically overpaying and making the $80-$100M gamble that Karlsson can get back to Norris level play starting next season.