Report: Sens and Bolts linked in blockbuster trade talks

With New York Islanders GM Garth Snow officially clearing the air earlier this week and announcing that his team will NOT be trading captain and pending unrestricted free-agent John Tavares, all eyes are on the Ottawa Senators a GM Pierre Dorion. What, oh what will he do with Erik Karlsson?

Just half a season removed from an Eastern Conference Final appearance, the Sens fell flat on their face this season and are now in the NHL Draft Lottery mix. With their superstar captain slated to hit unrestricted free-agency in the summer of 2019, rumors surrounding his future with the team continue to swirl. 

The latest rumor is courtesy of reporter Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times who reports that Karlsson’s relationship with Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman may prove valuable in the team’s pursuit of Karlsson. Could you imagine? A defense corps led by Karlsson and Hedman, with red hot rookie Mikhail Sergachev on the 2nd pairing? Wow.

Further to Smith’s report, Fluto Shinizawa of the Boston Globe reports that Lightning GM Steve Yzerman could dangle All-Star Brayden Point in trade talks for Karlsson.

Erik Karlsson looked awfully comfortable in Tampa during All-Star Weekend. The Ottawa captain would be an ideal acquisition for the Lightning’s Cup run. The Senators, facing the rotten situation of Karlsson walking for nothing after next year, could accelerate their rebuild by landing Brayden Point and futures from the Lightning

Point plus picks for Karlsson? Can you say, “BLOCKBUSTER!?” Of course, this is all rumor and hearsay at this point, but we love hearing about big deals like this. It may or may not happen, but we can dream, can’t we?