Karlsson’s puck scoop at the buzzer intrigues
Yes, captain tucked the disc in his pants, but he could still return to Sens next season
It was a 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 plans.
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 tonight, 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 finish up the regular season with the game against the Sabres followed by 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. This is a story that will play out in the weeks and months after the final buzzer sounds on the season Saturday.
The Senators studied dealing Karlsson at the NHL’s Feb. 26 trade deadline, but general manager Pierre Dorion didn’t feel any other team was able to satisfy what Ottawa wanted if it was really going to trade its franchise player.
The Vegas Golden Knights, Tampa Bay Lightning, San Jose Sharks and Washington Capitals made offers, but the Senators didn’t want to rush into making a deal and the plan remains to meet with Karlsson and to offer him a contract extension when that window opens July 1.
That, however, doesn’t mean other teams won’t try to make a push before the NHL draft in Dallas on June 22-23.
Owner Eugene Melnyk and Dorion will be asked about Karlsson’s status during town hall sessions with season-ticket holders next Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Senators will make Karlsson what they consider to be a fair-market offer and then the two sides can begin negotiations. Karlsson isn’t scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent until July 1, 2019.
It’s believed Karlsson and his agents will want between US$80 million and US$100 million for an eight-year extension, but that’s really just talk until the two sides meet.
The Senators want to keep Karlsson. His three-assist effort against the Jets on Monday tied him for the team scoring lead with winger Mark Stone, both with 62 points, and marked the sixth consecutive season in which Karlsson has surpassed 60, which is a notable achievement.
Karlsson didn’t travel to Buffalo with the Senators on Tuesday, but that doesn’t mean he won’t play in the final three games. He is taking personal leave to be with his wife, Melinda, after the tragic death of their unborn child on March 19.
Head coach Guy Boucher has left it up to Karlsson to decide whether he wants to be on the road trip or not, so it’s possible Karlsson could travel to Buffalo today and suit up against the Sabres.
“I don’t have that answer right now,” Boucher said.
“It’s up to him. We’ve said that since the beginning and we want to respect that.”
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