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NHL Trade Rumors: How every team could trade for Erik Karlsson

By Dave Stevenson

TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 27: {L-R} John Klingberg #3 of the Dallas Stars and Erik Karlsson #65 of the Ottawa Senators warm-up prior to the 2018 GEICO NHL All-Star Skills Competition at Amalie Arena on January 27, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 27: {L-R} John Klingberg #3 of the Dallas Stars and Erik Karlsson #65 of the Ottawa Senators warm-up prior to the 2018 GEICO NHL All-Star Skills Competition at Amalie Arena on January 27, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images) /
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NHL trade rumors Erik Karlsson
Photo by Jana Chytilova/NHLI via Getty Images /

The latest NHL trade rumors point to Ottawa Senators captain Erik Karlsson being traded in the offseason. Every team should be interested in him, so here’s how each team could feasibly trade for him. 

The Ottawa Senators are spiraling downwards fast. They’ve gone from Stanley Cup contenders to bottom feeders in a matter of four months. Ottawa went all-in by trading for Matt Duchene and found themselves as deadline sellers just three months later. They did this while having an elite defenseman in Erik Karlsson.

Their captain Karlsson was not traded before the 2018 trade deadline. Though it certainly wasn’t due to a lack of effort. The Senators were listening to offers and Karlsson nearly got traded to several teams. Ottawa’s relationship with their captain might be so poor, an extension that once seemed inevitable is looking less likely with every passing day.

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Should the Senators not be able to extend him (and Karlsson is on record saying he won’t give them a hometown discount), they must trade him. As bad as trading their captain would be, losing him for nothing would be even worse. If you think P.K. Subban trade rumors were bad, Karlsson trade rumors are even more ridiculous.

Just about every fanbase covets Karlsson. At the age of 27 (he turns 28 in May), he’s still in his prime. Karlsson is already one of the two right-handed defensemen ever with more than one Norris Trophy (Chris Chelios is the other).

His points per game rate is among the best all-time for righties. Factor in the era during which Karlsson plays, and you have a case there hasn’t been a better right-handed defenseman than him.

Let’s take a look at how each NHL team could trade for him. First, some ground rules. I won’t just throw first-round picks at the Senators until they accept. This isn’t a video game, this is real life. Secondly, no players with no-movement clauses will be allowed to go to Ottawa. Frankly, why would anyone waive it?

Thirdly, unless otherwise specified, an eight-year extension will be a part of the trade. This means Karlsson will be more than a rental. So let’s take a look at if, and how, each NHL team can feasibly trade for the two-time Norris Trophy winner.

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