Erik Karlsson gets involved with the Senators

We all know how messy things came to an end between the Ottawa Senators and their former captain Erik Karlsson back in September 2018 when he was traded to the San Jose Sharks in a blockbuster move. There was a lot that was said about his relationship with management and his feud with former teammate Mike Hoffman and his fiancée, however there was never a doubt that Karlsson loved the city of Ottawa, where his wife Melinda is originally from. 

So we guess we shouldn’t be surprised to learn that Karlsson has decided to get involved with the Senators again, despite his contract with the Sharks. The veteran blue liner felt the need to help his former team and the awesome work they do for the community in Ottawa by taking part in a video to help relaunch of the old Ottawa Senators Foundation.

After the ugly split between the long-established Senators Foundation and the team this summer, the club formed a new, in-house Ottawa Senators Community Foundation in August and announced it was morphing into the Ottawa-Gatineau Youth Foundation.

Karlsson is not the only former Senators players landing a hand: Kyle Turris and his wife Julie, Bobby Ryan and his spouse Danielle, Mark Borowiecki and his wife Tara, who is a board member of the new foundation, Jean-Gabriel Pageau and his wife Camille all took part in the process to support the cause. 

“We know change isn’t easy,” says Melinda Karlsson, in the video opening.

“But we also know that change can lead to opportunities to shine,” adds Erik Karlsson.

The official Ottawa-Gatineau Youth Foundation launch will take place online on Wednesday. The Foundation will retain its core pillars of supporting youth initiatives, through physical activity and mental health programs, but with an added push across the Ottawa River into Gatineau. 

There is no doubt that the Sharks support Karlsson in helping his former team, seeing how much good they are trying to bring to the city and its youth. 

Good job, Erik!