GM wants Karlsson to be ‘Senator for life’

Pierre Dorion didn’t issue a guarantee Thursday night.

But the Ottawa Senators general manager served notice he will do everything in his power to keep captain Erik Karlsson in the fold.

While it came with the cautionary reminder that “even Wayne Gretzky” got traded, Dorion told reporters before facing the St. Louis Blues Thursday at the Canadian Tire Centre that the club will try to sign Karlsson in the off-season.

“Our first priority with Erik is to sign him. He’s a special player,” Dorion said. “Last time we spoke I think I told you Wayne Gretzky got traded. If a team makes an offer you can’t turn down, you listen.

“Our first priority is to sign Erik Karlsson and Erik Karlsson to be a Senator for life.”

As the Senators prepare for the NHL draft in June, Dorion said one of his priorities will be scouting. He was in Halifax on Wednesday night to watch top prospect Filip Zadina, a winger who had a strong effort at the world junior championship with the Czech Republic.

“Scouting is my background. It’s something I enjoy,” Dorion said. “I’m going to make a big effort. I can help this organization when I scout — especially if we pick in the top-10.

“That’s something I’m going to be doing. I plan to go to Europe in a few weeks to watch some possible free agents and some possible guys in the top-10. I plan to go to some NHL games, but I think this team can sort itself out with this coaching staff and I’m going to be a bit more on the road and a little less present here.”

Dorion said he also has to prepare for the trade deadline on Feb. 26.

“If we lose the next 10 (games), the path we’re going down is very easy. If we win the next 10, I think we have a chance to be in the playoffs,” Dorion said. “There’s a lot of hockey left and these next six weeks will determine where we are.

“At the trade deadline it won’t be, ‘Hmm, we’re buyers, we’re sellers.’ It will be one way or the other.”

A decision on defenceman Thomas Chabot will be made soon. The Senators haven’t decided if he needs more time with the club’s American Hockey League affiliate or not.

Dorion joked if the Senators scored a victory over the Blues, Chabot would stay for the rest of the year. But the Sens still want time to evaluate him.