Since the trade deadline of the 2017/18 season, Erik Karlsson has been the center of trade rumors. As of Thursday, those rumors have been put to rest. It’s official, Erik Karlsson Traded to the San Jose Sharks
Karlsson Joins a Contender
After the heavily noted tension between Erik Karlsson and the Ottawa Senators organization, it’s all finally put to rest. The Senators Shipped off Erik Karlsson and forward prospect Francis Perron in exchange for a laundry list of complicated picks, prospects, and a couple roster players. Erik Karlsson is the last of the major players to be circulating in the rumor mill to put an end to the speculation. Max Pacioretty traded to The Vegas Golden Knights and Tyler Seguin signing an extension with The Dallas Stars. Everything is right in the world again, unless if you are from Ottawa or Montreal of course.
Ottawa’s Return
In exchange for the Swedish superstar, The Senators received what appears to be a lot at first glance. Forward Chris Tierney, defenseman Dylan De Melo, Forward prospects Josh Norris and Rudolfs Balcers, 2019 2nd round pick, 2020 conditional first round and a 2021 conditional second round.
Chris Tierney is a 24-year-old third line center coming off his first ever 40 point season with the Sharks. Scoring 17 goals, Tierney over doubled his previous career high of seven last season. Dylan De Melo is a right defenseman also coming off a career-high season. De Melo scored a Career high of 20 points and played a record 63 games this year for the Sharks. Neither of these players is bad by any stretch, but they definitely don’t bring back the return you would expect from such a blockbuster trade.
The Conditional Picks
This is where the trade gets complicated. If the Sharks sign Karlsson to a new contract, Ottawa will get San Jose’s second-round pick in 2021. That pick will change to a first round pick if the Sharks reach the Cup Finals in 2019. The Second conditional pick is what you could call a “Hoffman Condition”. If Karlsson is on an Eastern Conference team in the following season, the Senators will get another first round pick, no later than 2022. One can assume this is because of the Mike Hoffman trades from earlier this off-season. It was reported the Senators would not trade Hoffman within the conference. Doug Wilson saw an opportunity. Wilson traded for Hoffman and immediately flipped him back to the East where he reaped the benefits from The Florida Panthers. The Senators were thinking “Fool me once…”
What Does This Mean For The Sharks
The Sharks chances to be a dominant team in the West with the newly acquired two times Norris Trophy winner. The Sharks now have what Doug Wilson believes to be 3 of the best defenseman in the league. Fans of the Sharks are drooling thinking about the power play opportunities with the thought of Brent Burns and Karlsson on the same blue line. Though now short a third line center, the upgrade speaks volumes. With what is now the most star-studded cast in the West. It is expected the make a large push into the playoffs this year. The Sharks have been perpetual contenders for years. Now with the Evander Kane signing with his new team long term, Erik Karlsson will join the other “EK” for what should be an exciting season.
Last Word
With Doug Wilson in charge, things usually seem to lean in the Sharks’ favor at the end of the day. With the disputes between Mike Hoffman and Erik Karlsson earlier in 2018, it was assumed when the Sharks acquired Mike Hoffman, they were out of contention for Karlsson. Turns out no, he reaped the benefits of the falling outs twofold. Hang in there Sens fans, things are bound to turn around soon, right? I mean how much worse can it get. For now, maybe watch the Sharks, it should be quite the show.
Main Image: Embed from Getty Images
