UPDATE: The deal is done. Players are being informed of the trade.
Sources say the #Sens have dealt Erik Karlsson to the Sharks in exchange for Chris Tierney, Dylan DeMelo, Josh Norris, Rudolfs Balcers, 2020 1st, 2019 2nd and two conditional picks.
— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) September 13, 2018
Wow! That's quite a haul. Still, San Jose won this deal. Big day for Sharks fans. The summer is over. Let the games begin.
...
The 2018-19 San Jose Sharks' season is fast approaching and as if you're not excited enough, Erik Karlsson could be decked out in teal when camps open up in the coming days.
According the several reports, the Sharks are going all in for the All-Star and former Norris winning defenseman.
Sounds like San Jose is making a huge push to land Erik Karlsson.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) September 13, 2018
If this does indeed happen and San Jose adds Karlsson to a D corps that already includes Brent Burns and Marc-Eduord Vlasic, they would easily jump ahead of Vegas and Los Angeles in the Pacific Division and they have to be in the conversation as a legit contender in the Western Conference.
Any deal would have to be contingent on EK signing an extension. No GM is going to empty a dump truck full of assets for a player in the final year of his contract. RIGHT?
The two time Norris winner, collected 62 points (9g, 53a) in 71 games last season for a disfunsional Ottawa team. Karlsson's had at least 60-plus points in each of the last five seasons. For comparison, Burns has at least 60-points in each of his last four seasons. That's a matchup nightmare for opposing coaches.
I'll update as news unfolds - good....or bad.
Did you miss me? Steve