BRUCE ALMIGHTY
Karlsson and Stone won’t be moved at deadline ... Dorion’s getting plenty of calls on others ... Vikings fan Ryan vows they’ll be back ... Avs happy post-Duchene
ST. PAUL, Minn. — There will be no shortage of trade talk between now and the NHL trade deadline set for Feb. 26 at 3 p.m. EST.
Two players who don’t have to worry: Captain Erik Karlsson and winger Mark Stone.
While the Senators are getting calls on all of their players with the club struggling, general manager Pierre Dorion won’t be dealing either Karlsson or Stone and you have to think both have been told that’s the case.
With Karlsson headed for unrestricted free agency on July 1, 2019 and Stone set to become a restricted free agent, who has rights to arbitration, this summer on July 1, the Senators intend to sit down with both of them in the off-season to try to get them signed to long-term contracts.
That doesn’t mean all the speculation is going to go away.
Dorion is still getting plenty of calls on the likes of forwards Mike Hoffman, Zack Smith and Jean Gabriel Pageau along with defenceman Cody Ceci.
The indications are there’s also been interest in centre Derick Brassard, but he’s not expected to be dealt and it would take an offer the club can’t refuse to move Pageau.
Hoffman, who has received genuine interest from the St. Louis Blues, is trying to ignore the noise.
“It’s kind of like old news now. I’d love to be part of this hockey club and I’ve really enjoyed everything that has happened here in the last few years,” Hoffman said.
“That’s not really my decision. My decision is how I prepare and how I play hockey so that’s the biggest thing I focus on.
“I come to the rink and I try to do my job as best I can every day.”
RYAN FEELS STING OF LOSS
By the time Bobby Ryan arrived in his Saint Paul hotel room Sunday night the Minnesota Vikings season was all but officially over.
He wasn’t only disappointed the Vikings wouldn’t be going to the Super Bowl because he’s a fan, he also felt bad for Minny receiver
Kyle Rudolph, a close friend, who won’t get the chance to play in the Super Bowl in his home city on Feb. 4.
Rudolph was supposed to be in the stands for Ottawa’s game Monday night against the Wild but Ryan wasn’t sure that would be the case after the Vikings dropped a 38-7 decision to the Philadelphia Eagles in the City of Brotherly Love.
“I was disappointed for him,” said Ryan after the club’s skate. “I didn’t text him (Sunday) night because I didn’t want to be one of those guys that bothered him. They had a great run, they had a great season and it’s disappointing to see it end like that.”
Rudolph trains in the Anaheim area and became a fan of Ryan while he was with the Ducks.
“He reached out through my agent, we met up and had a beer and we became fast friends,” said Ryan. “Our wives are good friends, we have kids the same age and it’s been good to stay in touch with him.”
Once they started spending time together, Rudolph told Ryan he had to switch his allegiances and be a Vikings’ fan.
“He told me I had to jump on the bandwagon and now it’s been the better part of seven years that I’ve been a fan,” Ryan said. “I got to come out during the lockout (in 2012-13) and see him play at home a few times.”
Of course, that’s not easy for Ryan, who grew up in the Philly suburb of Cherry Hill, New Jersey. He wasn’t exactly excited for the Eagles but he was happy for his pals.
“I wasn’t torn,” Ryan said. “With social media I saw all my friends from home at the game and doing the ‘Fly Eagles Fly’ and they know I’m a Vikings fan.
“They were cordial about it but I did get a few texts after the game. Bragging rights go to them for one year, but we’ll be back.”
And, yes, Ryan would be quite happy if the Eagles brought the Super Bowl to Philadelphia with a win over the New England Patriots.
MOVING ON FROM DUCHENE
Colorado forward Nathan
MacKinnon has been pleased with the results of the deal that sent centre
Matt Duchene to Ottawa in November and brought the club blueliner Sam Girard from the Nashville Predators as part of a three-team trade.
Speaking in Toronto Monday, MacKinnon indicated while Duchene was a pro under difficult circumstances in Colorado, his ex-teammates felt a cloud was lifted when he was moved.
Let’s face it, the situation had dragged on for a long time and sooner or later general manager Joe Sakic was going to have to make a trade.
“There’s nothing wrong with (Duchene) wanting to leave,” MacKinnon told the Denver Post. “I think it’s fair. He’s eight, nine years in this league and it wasn’t like a crazy breakup or anything. He went about it really good this season.
“But obviously we knew he wanted to leave. Now we have everybody here that wants to be here, which is great. If (Duchene) was here I’d think we’d be in a good spot as well. He’s a really good player and it’s nice to get (Girard) here. He’s a great defenceman.”
It took time for Duchene to fit in with Ottawa but he’s starting to get more comfortable and the club believes he can be part of the solution.