It’s June 4th.
The Stanley Cup Final is in full swing but for 29 other teams across the National Hockey League, these are quiet times.
The combine is over. The entry draft is still a few weeks away. While behind closed doors, teams frantically finalize their lists ahead of June 21st in Vancouver, there isn’t a whole lot for fans to talk about.
No trades. No signings. No rumou….
Well then.
Leave it to Don Brennan to give us something to talk about on an otherwise quiet Tuesday in June.
In an article posted in today’s Ottawa Sun and Citizen, Brennan speculates about the possibility of Erik Karlsson returning to Ottawa this summer as a free agent.
Huh.
The article itself is mostly full of “ifs” but is based on what Brennan calls a “well-connected source” suggesting that Karlsson is hoping to receive competitive offers from two teams in particular- the Montreal Canadiens and the Ottawa Senators.
It’s based on the premise that Erik’s wife Melinda is homesick and looking to be a little closer to home.
Entirely possible but that certainly doesn’t mean the Senators, under current ownership anyway, are willing or able to make the “competitive offer” required to make it happen.
On top of that, there is a pretty good argument to be made against such a thing considering where Ottawa is at in this rebuild and where Karlsson is at in his career.
While he had moments of brilliance in San Jose, this past season was a bit of a let down for Karlsson with various injuries slowing him down. When he’s healthy, he is still one of the most dominant players in the game. But there are legitimate risks to be considered by any team tabling an offer for Karlsson this summer.
Realistically, there are going to be a few options for Karlsson this summer.
San Jose is still in the mix. Tampa Bay doesn’t currently have room to make it happen but they’ve always had interest. The New York Rangers seem like a fit. Same with the Montreal Canadiens and even…the Toronto Maple Leafs. Shudder.
Apparently you can add the Ottawa Senators to the list of teams Erik Karlsson is hoping to hear from this summer.
It doesn’t make a lot of sense.
But then again, trading him didn’t make much sense either.
