Senators trade Hoffman to erase strife
The Ottawa Senators traded winger Mike Hoffman Tuesday, hoping to solve an ugly off-ice issue involving star defenseman Erik Karlsson and his wife.
The Senators sent Hoffman to the San Jose Sharks, who then dealt him to the Florida Panthers. All told, the two transactions involved four players and six draft picks.
The Sharks sent forward Mikkel Boedker, defensive prospect Julius Bergman and a 2020 sixth-round pick to the Senators for Hoffman, defensive prospect Cody Donaghey and a 2020 fifthround pick. They then dealt Hoffman and a 2018 seventhround pick to the Panthers for 2018 fourth- and fifthround picks and a 2019 second-round pick in a move that clears significant cap space for San Jose to use in an offseason that includes potential free-agent forwards John Tavares and Ilya Kovalchuk.
The Senators were eager to deal Hoffman amid a dispute with captain Karlsson and his wife.
Melinda Karlsson recently filed an order of protection against Hoffman’s fiancee alleging harassment and cyberbullying in the form of hundreds of derogatory online messages aimed at her and her husband, whose first child, a boy, was stillborn in March.
Ottawa general manager Pierre Dorion didn’t hide his reasoning for trading Hoffman.
“Today’s trade showcases our determination to strengthen the future of the team by improving chemistry, leadership and character in the locker room and on the ice,” Dorion said. “We are confident it is a step in the right direction for the long-term success of this organization.”
The Senators might still trade Karlsson, who can be a free agent after next season.
The Panthers had shown interest in Hoffman but did not have the right match for the Senators in terms of players, draft picks or prospects. They remained interested in Hoffman and made a deal with the Sharks for the speedy winger who can score at a reasonable price without having to trade from their NHL roster. Hoffman has surpassed 20 goals each of the four seasons he has been a full-time NHL player.
“We felt that this would be a perfect fit for our team,” said Florida general manager Dale Tallon. “He’s 28, he can score, he can skate, he’s got a cannon for a shot.”
Tallon said he was confident Florida’s locker room will accept Hoffman.
“We did our homework and we discussed it with a lot of different people,” Tallon said. “We feel that that’s in the past and the distractions. We’re very confident he’ll be embraced by our team and by their wives and girlfriends. We have a strong culture down there, and I think [after] talking with Mike and all the parties that it will work out to our benefit.”
The Sharks, who paid a bargain-basement price to acquire scoring winger Evander Kane at the trade deadline when Buffalo was eager to deal him, shed Boedker’s $4 million salarycap hit over the next two seasons and cleared room to make splashes this summer.
Elsewhere
More than two months after the tragedy that killed their teammates, 10 of the surviving members of the Humboldt Broncos will be reunited for the first time.
The members of the junior hockey team will be honored at the NHL Awards in Las Vegas Wednesday. The NHL also plans to recognize survivors and first responders from October’s Las Vegas shooting — which occurred nine days before the Vegas Golden Knights’ home opener — as well as the hockey team from Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.
“It means so much to me because we haven’t all been able to meet in person at the same time,” Broncos player Kaleb Dahlgren told ESPN.
“We feel that that’s in the past and the distractions. We’re very confident that he’ll be embraced by our team and by their wives and girlfriends.” Florida GM Dale Tallon on Mike Hoffman, pictured