Oilers intrigued by Sens’ Karlsson
Edmonton could be in position to offer package that might have appeal for Ottawa
Mike Hoffman may be lucky to fetch a double-double and a box of timbits in a trade because of the alleged Twitter bullying by his fiancée against Erik Karlsson’s wife, Melinda.
But NHL teams have Ottawa Senators GM Pierre Dorion’s cell on speed dial to make an offer for Karlsson.
And yes, the Edmonton Oilers, who have a need for a right-shot offensive defenceman to help Connor McDavid and a Top 6 right-winger, have called upon hearing that Karlsson wanted out of Ottawa, even if it seems improbable they could fit him under their salary cap.
Likely having to trade Karlsson must be difficult for Dorion because as chief scout he convinced then GM Bryan Murray to move up in Round 1 to draft Karlsson at No. 15.
But Karlsson doesn’t want to be in Ottawa any longer.
If the Oilers are making their pitch, any talk of a straight-up Leon Draisaitl for Karlsson swap makes no sense from the Ottawa side because owner Eugene Melnyk is operating on the cheap. He’s looking for multiple pieces in a deal, with the Senators in much the same rebuild mode as the New York Rangers.
He’s not looking to take back a big one-off contract, especially for a centre when he’s already got Matt Duchene at $6 million per season.
Admittedly, it’s a long shot the Oilers could get Karlsson because they can’t be paying four or five guys half their salary cap.
Vegas makes more sense, because they’ve got lots of cap room and especially if they might be prepared to give up talented youngsters like winger Alex Tuch and defenceman Shea Theodore.
But the Oilers could also put together a reasonable package to get the best offensive D-man in the game. He’s exactly what McDavid needs, so it doesn’t hurt to ask.
Melnyk wants draft picks and, or one high-end prospect and a team-friendly contract. Three or four pieces at least with the thought the deal could be expanded or changed if they try to shove winger Bobby Ryan’s $7.25 million anchor contract into the mix.
If they want Ryan included to dump his salary, then they’ll get far less for Karlsson.
At the trade deadline, Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh along with J.T. Miller fetched two very good prospects in Brett Howden and Libor Hajek, two first-round picks, and centre Vlad Namestnikov, from Tampa.
McDonagh is nowhere near as good as Karlsson.
Years back, Columbus traded captain Rick Nash in his prime to the Rangers for two very good players in Brandon Dubinsky and Artem Anisimov, a prospect, Tim Erixon, and a first-rounder.
“These things take a long time to get negotiated when you’re trading a player like Nash,” said Rangers former GM Glen Sather. “I think it’s a fair trade for both sides.”
Sather traded Paul Coffey, a player comparable to Karlsson, in 1987 to Pittsburgh. Coffey had two Norris trophies just like Karlsson. Coffey was 27, Karlsson just turned 28, and both were offensive drivers from the back.
Sather got two young players, Craig Simpson and Chris Joseph, veteran Mo Mantha and slugger Wayne Van Dorp with Dave Hunter going with Coffey to the Penguins.
So what would the Oilers be offering? Or Ottawa asking?
Hypothetically, Ottawa could be looking for Oscar Klefbom or Darnell Nurse because they would need a young defenceman to replace Karlsson, also the Oilers 10th overall pick in the entry draft to go with the Senators No. 4 selection. Maybe the Oilers could add the third-round pick in 2019 (they have their own and Islanders) and a prospect.
The Oilers have cap concerns like most teams, but Karlsson is special, so you have to make a pitch.
The Oilers have McDavid and Draisaitl making $21 million next season on the cap, plus $6 million for Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and another $6 million for Milan Lucic, unless he’s traded.
Every team knows they have to sign Karlsson to a new deal before any trade, and $10 million or more per season is what it will take.
For the Oilers to go after Karlsson they would likely need $6 million on the cap going out.
Klefbom makes $4.1 million, Nurse has to be signed as a restricted free-agent, and it might be a two-year bridge deal for less than $4 million a year.
I can’t see the Oilers being interested at all if Ottawa wants Kailer Yamamoto as a forward prospect.