Good morning Hockey World.
Well as players begin to head back and prepare for camp this week there is no doubt that the Ottawa Senators are playing a dangerous game of chicken when it come to Erik Karlsson.
As I have said before, last week it became very clear that the Sens wanted this done by the end of August and they were getting close with a few teams out West, but not quite close enough for the Sens liking. But make no mistake about it, the Senators do NOT want the distraction of Karlsson in training camp and many are wondering if he will be if he isn't traded.
And now I am hearing the Tampa Bay Lightning and the New York Islanders are both back in the discussions as of this past weekend.
This is not going away and if anything I expect we hear rumors really ramping up today.
On Nate Schmidt...
The NHLPA is not happy about this 20-game suspension.
Schmidt went before a private arbitrator on Sunday, and I am hearing we could get some news as early as today. I would be shocked if the length of the suspension is significantly lowered to five to 10 games, which makes more sense for the smallest amounts of the substance found in Nate. Small enough to have not affected a man that size and small enough to legitimately argue this was something Nate didn't even know about, really.
That coupled with the fact that the NHL team here made the mistake and gave it to him without his knowledge makes this all the more dicey.
My question to you: If the team gave this to him, why isn't the entire team being tested and if the entire team tests positive does this at all alter your opinion of the Golden Knights' accomplishments?
more to come...2 blogs (at least) per day starts now...
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— Michael Augello (@MikeInBuffalo) August 2, 2017