San Jose Sharks trade for Ottawa Senators captain Erik Karlsson
The San Jose Sharks have acquired two-time Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson in a blockbuster trade with the Ottawa Senators
On Thursday, September 13, news broke that the San Jose Sharks were making a huge push for a trade with the Ottawa Senators involving two-time Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson. It didn’t take them long to complete it, as the trade is now final.
The San Jose Sharks are adding Karlsson to an already impressive group of defensemen. In exchange, the Ottawa Senators are getting two prospects and two roster players with draft picks for their former captain.
For the Sharks, this is an outstanding trade. They are getting one of the only two right-handed defensemen in NHL history to win more than one Norris Trophy. The other one? Chris Chelios. The Sharks are now the only team in the NHL with two Norris Trophy winners on their roster. Brent Burns (who won in 2016-17) and Karlsson should wreck havoc on the Pacific Division.
They also have Marc-Edouard Vlasic, who’s one of the best pure defensemen in the NHL. The Sharks blueline is arguably the best in the league right now. It might be top heavy, but boy, the top can’t be beaten.
As for the Senators, this is admittedly a tough trade. Once again, Ottawa has managed to mishandle a franchise legend. This isn’t the first time they’ve done so and it likely won’t be the last. Karlsson is the most decorated player in Senators history. Even though this was an absolutely necessary trade, it stings to lose someone as lovely on and off the ice as Karlsson.
The Sens have traded Erik Karlsson and Francis Perron to SJ for a 1st rd pick in 2019 or 2020, C-Chris Tierny, 2nd rd pick 2019, C-Josh Norris, LW-Rudolfs Balcers and D-Dylan DeMelo
— Dean Brown (@PxPOttawa) September 13, 2018
1/2.
Sens also get a 2nd rd pick in 2021. It becomes a first if the Sharks sign him and SJ makes it to the final yhis season.
— Dean Brown (@PxPOttawa) September 13, 2018
The Sens also get a 1rst in 2021 or 2022 if Karlsson plays for an eastern team in 2018/19.
2/2
That’s an underwhelming return for someone like Karlsson. But at least the Senators are protecting against the Sharks trading him to an Eastern Conference foe. Norris and Balcers are intriguing prospects, but they shouldn’t be the two most valauvalpieces in a deal for someone like Karlsson.