Karlsson’s future with Sens murky

Iin Buffalo t was small, but significant move by Ottawa Senators captain Erik Karlsson. What mysteries lay beneath the surface of his decision to pick up the puck at the final buzzer of the club’s 6-5 loss to the Winnipeg Jets in the final home game of the regular season at Canadian Tire Centre on Monday night?

While Karlsson tried to throw cold water on tucking the puck into his pants when he spoke with reporters after what may have been his final home game with the Senators, he was still the talk of the town Tuesday. It’s going to be a while before anybody gets a clear answer on his future.

Don’t rule out the possibility Karlsson, who wasn’t on the ice for practice Tuesday and didn’t make the trip to Buffalo, where the Senators will face the Sabres on Wednesday night, will return next season.

“I don’t know why I did it. It was just laying there and I didn’t really think about (it being the last home) game and I didn’t really think that you guys would ever think about that even, but there’s a lot of cameras out there,” Karlsson said following the game.

“I was down there and I saw it was in the net, so I just picked it up and decided to keep it. I haven’t (thought about the final home game) until now. I’m a social guy, I read a lot of things and I’m not reading too much into it, but the word is out there from you guys. It’s not something I’ve thought about going into this game and it’s not something I’m going to think about for a while.”

The Senators end the regular season with the game against the Sabres before making stops in Pittsburgh on Friday and Boston on Saturday.

Karlsson’s future is one of the biggest uncertainties as the Senators head into the off-season. There was no chance picking up the puck Monday night would go unnoticed.

“There was a lot of stuff at the deadline, so he’s uncertain about his future, be it with his contract or a trade,” centre Matt Duchene said Tuesday. “He wanted to take that (puck) and keep it.

“You guys are sure making a big deal out of it, but I think it’s business as usual in here.”

Duchene is right. Where Karlsson is concerned, patience will be a virtue because this is a story that will play out in the weeks and months after the final buzzer sounds on the season Saturday.