And suddenly a new front-runner has emerged.
Approximately 24 hours after we learned that the Ottawa Senators were allowing teams to talk extension with defenceman Erik Karlsson, it appears as though one team has made the most of the opportunity.
According to Chris Stevenson at The Athletic, the Dallas Stars are now the team most likely to acquire Karlsson. To this point, the two sides have apparently discussed a deal that revolves around Julius Honka or top prospect Miro Heiskanen.
It’s worth pointing out that those are two players are nowhere close in value. Heiskanen is 19 years old and is a high-end prospect worth getting excited about. Meanwhile Julius Honka is 22 and has struggled in his transition to the NHL. One is the type of piece you should get back when trading the best defenceman in the game. The other is the type of asset you worry about getting back in a deal involving the best defenceman in the game.
In an interesting twist, Bobby Ryan is not a part of the current discussions with the Stars.
AJ Jakubec added that the two sides were close on a deal and that the name of Devin Shore had also come up in those talks.
There is no good way to lose a franchise player but it does seem like the Senators now at least have a few teams with serious interest.
Will be interesting to see if Vegas or Tampa Bay respond.
