Though the day may have started off slowly, this year’s NHL trade deadline ended up being a reasonably eventful one. However, the biggest name on the trade market was ultimately passed over by the rest of the league: Erik Karlsson remains a member of the Ottawa Senators.
Sens GM Pierre Dorion to media in Ottawa: ``If Erik Karlsson is here July 1, we'll be making him a contract offer.'' The key word: ``if.''
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 26, 2018
VGK was deep into Erik Karlsson trade talks up to the final minutes before the deadline and when it became clear it wasn’t going to get done, VGK traded with DET for Tomas Tatar.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 26, 2018
Dorion on Karlsson: "Erik and I have a great relationship....Erik and I had a good meeting this morning in my office. He loves being in Ottawa. I think he wants to be a Senator for life. If he is here July 1st, we will be making him a contract offer."
— Ian Mendes (@ian_mendes) February 26, 2018
Dorion on Karlsson situation: "We did not actively shop Erik Karlsson. We did not."
— Ian Mendes (@ian_mendes) February 26, 2018
A free agent in the summer of 2019, Karlsson will command a lot of money from interested suitors, and it’s unlikely that the small-market Senators will be able to compete against big spenders. The Senators still have time to trade him, or they may still possibly re-sign him, but what do Sens fans and people around the league think?
Drop a bomb Bobby everyone wants it especially Ek himself. https://t.co/KaS3cEcZV7
— Patrick O'Sullivan (@realPOSULLIVAN) February 26, 2018
Yeah. Until Melnyk cant sign him and he walks. I would do anything to keep Karlsson but we are definitely in a worse spot. Ottawa has a better chance of winning the cup without a Goalie in net, than they do of being able to afford Karlsson. New ownership please.
— Sam Gummeson (@IamSamGummeson) February 26, 2018
[July 1, Ottawa]
— DL (@davelozo) February 26, 2018
Dorion: Erik we'd like to make you an offer of-
Karlsson: pic.twitter.com/2xEQ978A6c
Yes! ... and you're still with the #Sens and your still with the #sens and you're still with the #sens #StillWiththeO pic.twitter.com/fRtfirQEzB
— Spartacat (@REAL_Spartacat) February 26, 2018
VGK was deep into Erik Karlsson trade talks up to the final minutes before the deadline and when it became clear it wasn’t going to get done, VGK traded with DET for Tomas Tatar.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 26, 2018
If they over paid that much for Tatar than you can only imagine what Ottawa turned down
— Ryan (@Saw_Ville35) February 26, 2018
I'd love to know what the offers for Karlsson were. Not entirely sure they get a better deal in the summer
— Trevor Shackles (@ShackTS) February 26, 2018
The Sens (let's be honest, Melnyk) would be crazy to keep Karlsson and lose him for nothing or wait longer to deal him while their leverage continues to crash.
— Salena (@HabsInForDahlin) February 26, 2018
Having said that, Melnyk & crew are crazy so he's not going anywhere.
Dorion says if Karlsson is still here on July 1st they will be making him a contract offer.
— TSN 1200 (@TSN1200) February 26, 2018
Imagine your reaction 9 months ago if someone would have even dreamed up the scenario below. Expansion team. Almost getting Erik Karlsson. https://t.co/hup1SGa0Xv
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 26, 2018
I may have overreacted a little the last 24 hours
— bRian (@brian5or6) February 26, 2018
the only reason the #Sens didn’t trade Karlsson is because @brian5or6 would have literally fought them all and anyone who says otherwise is wrong
— rayleene (@rylnkn) February 26, 2018
Do you believe Pierre Dorion that the Senators never actively shopped Erik Karlsson?
— Andrew Berkshire (@AndrewBerkshire) February 26, 2018
“If Erik Karlsson is here on July 1, we’ll be making him a contract offer.” -Pierre Dorion
— Andrew Johnson (@JAndrewJ86) February 26, 2018
If?! IF?!?!? How about “When”?!
Gotta love this team. Even when they just barely avoid creating a PR disaster... they go and create another PR disaster. #Sens #MelnykOut
The whole “Karlsson getting traded today, before the draft or leaving in Free Agency” saga is essentially the Hang The DJ episode of Black Mirror #MelnykOut
— Sage Jordan (@SageJordan) February 26, 2018
If the proposal for Karlsson looked anything like this thank god it fell through. What a dreadful return. https://t.co/d7x2qFCunU
— manny (@MannyElk) February 26, 2018
Did Dorion just spend 20 minutes insisting he’s got a great relationship with Erik Karlsson? Kind of feel like you didn’t need to try so hard to convince us, man.
— Justin Fisher (@thejustinfisher) February 26, 2018
“I mean, we took him to the store, sure. And, of course, while we were there, he had a ‘for sale’ sign around his neck. And, sure, I listened to and countered offers made on him. But, we did not *actively* shop Erik Karlsson.” https://t.co/ZSuGzVjzm3
— Nick Valentino (@nevalent) February 26, 2018
The way I see it, @ErikKarlsson65 is the franchise player of the @Senators, and they need to keep him a Senator for life, and have an owner who wants to pay for a playoff contending team around him. Just my $0.02. #nhlhockey
— John M. Kahane (@jkahane1) February 26, 2018
It's all because of the head office. Dorion got 3 more years because he can be controlled. Erik wants to stay at what he's worth. He's the franchise. Without him Ottawa is nothing for the next 3-5 years. There's no one on the team to build around.
— Matty 🍁 (@ReadyAimFish) February 26, 2018
Although Karlsson didn't get traded before the deadline, there's still a chance he gets traded in the summer and once those rumours start swirling again, expect Sens fans to freak out once again.
