By Jordan Long
The Ottawa Senators are in a rebuilding mode. They went 28-43-11 for 67 points last season, 30 points behind the New Jersey Devils for a playoff spot. They are now looking to trade defenseman and captain, Erik Karlsson which may happen before their first preseason game on September 18th.
Karlsson is one of the top offensive defensemen in the league. On defense Karlsson checks opponents off the puck, allowing him to gain control and skate the other way with the puck. Karlsson blocks shots so that the puck doesn’t go on net.
On offense, he is able to use his vision on the ice to feed his teammates for scoring chances from the blue line. If he doesn’t pass it, his slap shot makes it difficult for goaltenders to stop the puck from entering the net. Karlsson scored 9 goals and added 53 assists for total of 62 points last season. In his career he lit the lamp 126 times while adding 392 assists.
Karlsson is the point man on the power play. This enables him to set up the play and find his teammates for an easy goal. On the power play he scored 3 goals and added 15 assists last year. If he isn’t able to pass, he will shoot it on net for rebound chances. On the power play kill, he poke checks the puck away to end scoring opportunities.
Karlsson is an upgrade on the blue line for any team. He is the type of defenseman a team dreams of. The Senators need to deal him because Karlsson can help a team win a Cup. At least by trading him, the Senators will receive something back, even if it is a draft pick.
The tricky part about dealing him is his contract. Karlsson is owed $7.5 million this year, a lot of money for a team to take on. He will be a free agent next summer and he may not re-sign with the team that acquires him.
Karlsson should have the chance to be part of a winning team. It doesn’t seem like that will happen with the Senators this year or for years to come. Hopefully a team will want to take on his salary. He could be the difference in a deep postseason run.
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