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San Jose Sharks trade for Ottawa Senators captain Erik Karlsson

By Dave Stevenson

OTTAWA, ON - FEBRUARY 17: Ottawa Senators Defenceman Erik Karlsson (65) waits for a face-off during second period National Hockey League action between the New York Rangers and Ottawa Senators on February 17, 2018, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON - FEBRUARY 17: Ottawa Senators Defenceman Erik Karlsson (65) waits for a face-off during second period National Hockey League action between the New York Rangers and Ottawa Senators on February 17, 2018, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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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.

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.

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