For the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter Based on the reports this week from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and TSN’s Darren Dreger, trade speculation has picked up regarding defenseman Erik Karlsson, which is an indication that the Ottawa Senators want to resolve the uncomfortable situation with the two-time Norris Trophy winning blueliner prior to the opening of training camp in three weeks. In spite of their need for an upgrade on defense and the available cap space to take on Karlsson’s $6.5 Million salary, the Toronto Maple Leafs are likely relegated to bystanders in any trade talks, since the Sens have no interest in improving their greatest rival’s chances of breaking their 51-year Stanley Cup drought.
That does not mean that Toronto has no interest in where Karlsson ends up. According to Friedman, the Sens are exploring mostly offers from Western Conference clubs, including the Vancouver Canucks (who had not been mentioned as an interested party until recently). Vegas, San Jose and Dallas have also been mentioned in other recent speculation, while chatter about the Tampa Bay Lightning still being in the mix has waned. The Lightning adding Karlsson to a blueline that already includes Victor Hedman and Ryan McDonagh, to go along with star forwards Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov would be Tampa GM Steve Yzerman’s effective counter to the Leafs signing of John Tavares, making Toronto’s task of getting out of the Atlantic Division in the near future more difficult. Even if Karlsson is dealt to the West in the next few weeks, his final disposition will not be determined until he agrees to a new contract with his new club or goes somewhere of his choosing in free agency next July. Until pen has been put to paper, Leafs management should remain worried that the perennial Cup contending Lightning (who play in a no-tax, warm weather state) will end up being Karlsson’s final landing spot and secretly hope that the Norris Trophy winner finds Vancouver, San Jose, Vegas or Dallas irresistible.
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