I start here today...Full Rumor Chart Update coming next...
I hinted at this a bit yesterday, but now I am hearing that Tampa has indeed stopped talking to Ottawa all together and decided they would much rather wait this one out until Karlsson is a UFA next summer. There are some out there who are starting to question how serious the Lightning ever were because the offers were just not anywhere near where the Senators wanted to be.
The Lightning do hold many of the cards at this point, because Karlsson has really only expressed an interest in signing long-term wth Tampa...That means everyone else is looking at a rental price, and those are even worse for Dorion and Ottawa...
There is a rumor out there that Ottawa is insisting that any deal include Bobby Ryan, but my sources keep saying those talks are NOT the deal-breaker a few are making them out to be...
From a source, "Tampa holds 95% of the cards and they know it. Hedman knows that Karlsson will come there as a UFA and the team won't have to give up a thing..."
All this points back to what is looking more and more likely...That Karlsson will remain in Ottawa this season...at least until the deadline..and there are some who say Karlsson would love it if the team and his camp could find a way beyond the current issues and remain a Senator for a long time...
DICLAIMER>>>>
As always, things can change pretty quickly...and often do...I have waited to write this story until this point because I finally feel pretty certain that they won't be changing in the immediate future....BUT....it only takes one of the parties to decide they will take what they can and that they want this all behind them...
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