FIVE QUICK THOUGHTS
-Talk about a wildly entertaining hockey game. The overtime in particular was some of the best action we’ve seen in a game all year. Truly impressive skill and speed on display from both teams. A game for the ages really. It’s just too bad that a game of this magnitude had to be decided in a glorified skills competition. Those women gave it everything they had though and a silver medal is nothing to be ashamed of. The Senators lost in a shootout too, by the way. They still sit 29th overall but in a three-way tie with the Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens. The Senators are right back at it tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
-Another strong effort from Mark Borowiecki. It really has been amazing to watch his evolution as a player, this season in particular. His newfound confidence with the puck on his stick is something we really didn’t see much of in previous seasons but it’s becoming an important part of his game. He’s still capable of landing those huge open ice hits and he’s still willing to block a slap-shot with his remaining teeth but now he’s always got his head up with the puck on his stick. Making good plays breaking out of his own end and jumping into the rush when the situation calls for it. He really has evolved into a perfect third pairing defenceman.
-As if Tuesday wasn’t frantic enough, the Erik Karlsson drama managed to hit new levels on Wednesday, in large part because of a detailed analysis of the situation by TSN’s Bob McKenzie. The respected insider basically suggested it’s something close to a 50/50 proposition and that Pierre Dorion is having active conversations with as many as six teams. Although oddly enough, only one team has been named. To this point, those conversations are largely Dorion telling other GMs what it would take. Outlining the details of the so-called “King’s Ransom” the Senators are after in this deal. It’s a pretty small window to hammer out a deal of this magnitude but yea, they are definitely talking about it.
-Something that might seem obvious in all this but is certainly worth repeating- the Ottawa Senators would not be having these conversations if they felt there was a chance they could sign Karlsson to a long-term extension this summer. All this speculation should not be seen as an indication that the Senators don’t want Erik Karlsson. They absolutely do. What this is about, at this point anyway, is either they don’t think they can make it work financially or they’ve received some indication from Karlsson that maybe he’s not interested in being here long-term under Eugene Melnyk. Obviously both those scenarios circle back to issues with Ownership but it’s an important distinction.
-One last thought on this Karlsson stuff. It is worth pointing out that there is a fairly large difference in the way the Toronto-based media is talking about this story compared to the guys here in Ottawa. And that goes beyond what they’re saying publicly too. In the last couple days I’ve heard everything from “Karlsson has demanded a trade” to “Karlsson is frustrated but still wants to be in Ottawa” and everything in between. It’s just the way things go this time of year but it’s something to keep in mind over the next few days. I don’t think this story is media-generated. It’s a real possibility. But you can sort of tell that the Toronto-based media is having some fun with it. That they are making a spectacle out of it. And that is likely to continue with the Tampa Bay Lightning in town.
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