Fiancée’s ‘bullying’ gets Sens player dealt
The Senators have broken up the sordid drama surrounding two of their players’ significant others.
Ottawa traded Mike Hoffman to the Sharks on Tuesday for prospects and lowlevel draft picks. The move was more about shipping off Hoffman, whose fiancée, Monika Caryk, is accused of a vicious cyberbullying campaign against star defenseman Erik Karlsson’s wife before and after the couple lost their unborn child in March. Hours later, the Sharks traded Hoffman to the Panthers for three draft picks.
“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. We are confident it is a step in the right direction for the long-term success of this organization,” Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said in a statement.
The Karlssons accused Caryk of sending an onslaught of hateful tweets and messages directed at them and filed an order of protection — akin to a restraining order — against her last month. The Senators also opened an investigation into the matter.
“Monika Caryk has uttered numerous statements wishing my unborn child dead,” Melinda Karlsson said last week. “She also uttered that she wished I was dead and that someone should ‘take out’ my husband’s legs to ‘end his career.’
“Monika Caryk has posted over 1,000 negative and derogatory statements about me as a professional.”
Hoffman denied the accusations, saying there was a “150-percent chance that my fianceé Monika and I are not involved in any of the accusations that have been pursued.”
Other Senators wives, however, backed up Melinda’s claims on Twitter.
Karlsson has been the subject of previous trade rumors, and it’s unclear if this move signals a further commitment to the defenseman or was just to rid the franchise of the frightening controversy.