(UPDATE 6:26 PM)- The deal with Erik Karlsson is for 7 years/$45.5 million. An annual cap hit of $6.5 million a season. Appropriate.
(UPDATE 6:06 PM)- And now the Ottawa Senators have made it official. Defenceman Erik Karlsson has been signed to a seven year extension. No terms were immediately available.
(UPDATE 6:03 PM)- A quick update on Senators defenceman Erik Karlsson. Word is there has been some progress in the negotiations and a contract isn't far off. I'm no longer thinking short term by the way. Had initially reported three years as a possibility but now it sounds like it could be more like seven.
Daniel Alfredsson spoke with Sens TV last night and as you can expect the topic of his decision for next season was at the centre of the conversation.
Alfie made it clear that he's still weighing his options and really doesn't want to rush this decision. When you consider the threat of a lock out looming, there really is no pressure on the Captain to make up his mind, one way or the other.
You can catch the full interview here but essentially what Alfredsson said is that at some point in the next 'few weeks', he hopes to have a decision one way or the other. He'll speak with Murray and MacLean in Vegas and let them know where his head is at right now.
Alfie began training a couple weeks back and was forced to stop after a temporary throat virus slowed him down. I still think that Alfredsson is leaning towards another season but listening to him in that interview it seems clear this could still go either way.
I am away from the computer today so just a quick update for now. A couple quick notes that I have come across so far today.
- The Senators have announced their pre season schedule for next season. It includes three home games and four on the road. First game is September 23 at the Bell Centre in Montreal and the first home game comes on the 25th against the Leafs. Obviously all that is assuming the season actually starts on time.
- The rumour has been floating around for a couple days now but I can confirm the Senators do have an interest in Hawks defenceman Niklas Hjalmarsson. I have read Zack Smith's name on other sites but would be surprised to see the Sens move him.
- A brief update on Rick Nash. One contact called it a "long shot". Safe to say there are other teams lined up to make a deal for Nash and the Sens are less likely than teams like the Rangers and Sharks. Still a chance though.
- Keep an eye on TJ Oshie. The Blues definitely want to bring the RFA to be back but should those negotiations turn sour, the Sens would apparently be interested.
- That's it for now. Keep an eye on my Twitter account, @SensChirp for any updates.
