Speculation about Karlsson remains just that, writes Bruce Garrioch.

It’s the losing that bothers Erik Karlsson a lot more than any trade rumours.

After a report Saturday on Hockey Night in Canada that the Ottawa Senators captain was asked to submit his 10-team “no trade” list by the organization, Karlsson told the media Tuesday, before facing the Buffalo Sabres, the request didn’t bother him.

“That’s one of the things that’s in my contract ... it’s business,” he said. “I don’t read too much into it.”

The report led to speculation Karlsson may be dealt before the Feb. 26 trade deadline, but the Senators have asked all their players with “no move” or “no trade” clauses to submit lists.

Karlsson was asked if he experienced backlash from GM Pierre Dorion or anyone else after comments about his contract in Brooklyn two weeks ago?

“No, not really,” Karlsson replied.

Karlsson indicated he wasn’t going to sign for anything less than market value when he became an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2019. He has since claimed those words were “taken out of context” and his priority is to stay with the Senators.

“I said what I said and whether I meant the way that you spun it, I’m not going to stand here and backtrack or say that I said something different,” Karlsson said. “It’s what it is. Right now ... making sure we get out of this slump is all that I care about.”

Looking ahead to Wednesday’s game against the New York Rangers, the Senators need to get Derick Brassard going to have any chance to make the playoffs, while New York’s Rick Nash has eight goals and 16 points in 30 games and needs to start producing more.

Here are five other things to watch for:

1 Get to the King In 38 career games against Ottawa, Henrik Lundqvist has a 16-18-3 lifetime record with a 2.05 GAA and .931 save percentage with two shutouts.

2 Home Sweet Home After the road trip, the Senators should be happy to get back to the Canadian Tire Centre but the club has been mediocre there, 4-5-5.

3 Stop Zuccarello Mats Zuccarello must like seeing the Senators. He has five goals and 11 points in 13 career games vs. Ottawa.

4 Big Game From Andy Craig Anderson has lost seven straight games. He hasn’t received a whole lot of help defensively.

5 Score on the Power Play It’s ranked 27th in the league. It needs to contribute.