Sens ship Karlsson to SJ
The San Jose Sharks shocked the NHL yesterday when they acquired two-time Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Erik Karlsson from the Ottawa Senators for a package of young players and picks, adding a world-class player to a team now expected to contend in the ultra-tough Western Conference.
San Jose is sending the Senators a first-round pick in 2019 or 2020, a secondround pick in 2019, forwards
Chris Tierney, Josh Norris and Rudolfs Balcers, defenseman Dylan DeMelo and two conditional draft picks. The Sharks also get forward
Francis Perron.
Ottawa also gets a secondround pick in 2021 if Karlsson re-signs with the Sharks. That pick becomes a first if the Sharks make the Stanley Cup finals in 2019. The Sens also will receive a first-rounder in 2021 or 2022 if Karlsson is on an Eastern Conference roster this season.
Karlsson, 28, has one year left on his contract but Sharks general manager
Doug Wilson said he hopes to keep him long term. Karlsson has scored 518 points in his career, by far the most of any defenseman since he entered the NHL in 2009. He won the Norris as the league’s best defenseman in 2012 and ’15 and is one of the best quarterbacks on the power play.
Karlsson had nine goals and 53 assists last season for Ottawa. He also led the team in average ice time (26:44, 3rd in the NHL), was second in blocked shots (120) and second in scoring with 62 points (nine goals, 53 assists).
Huge pact for Seguin
The Dallas Stars avoided any lingering questions about Tyler Seguin’s future by signing the five-time AllStar center to a $78.8 million, eight-year contract extension that goes through the 2026-27 season.
Without the extension, Seguin could have become an unrestricted free agent after this season, when he will make $6.5 million to wrap up his current $34.5 million, sixyear contract.
The 26-year-old former Bruin scored a career-high 40 goals last season and 38 assists. Only captain Jamie Benn had more points on the Stars with 79.
Fabbri ready to go
The St. Louis Blues activated forward Robby Fabbri off injured reserve before their first training camp practices. Fabbri missed all of last season after re-tearing the ACL in his left knee.
Forward Nikita Soshnikov will miss the start of camp with a concussion he suffered while training . ...
Carolina Hurricanes center Victor Rask had surgery on two fingers he injured while slicing food in his kitchen. General manager Don Waddell said Rask will be out indefinitely after having the procedure on the fourth and fifth fingers on his right hand.
The Hurricanes also named veteran forward Justin Williams as their captain.