The Anaheim Ducks should jump into the Erik Karlsson Sweepstakes
The Anaheim Ducks have a prime opportunity to bring in the NHL’s best defenseman. Here’s why an Erik Karlsson deal to the OC works for everyone.
All-star defenseman Erik Karlsson wants out of Ottawa. Personal tragedy and a very nasty spat between his wife and former teammate Mike Hoffman‘s girlfriend, have made the Canadian capital a place he’d like to put in his rearview mirror. Getting a fresh start in a new city is something almost everyone can relate to.
All summer long, it’s been rumored the Karlsson was headed to the Tampa Bay Lightning. There are conflicting reports as to how close an actual trade was to happening. It’s now the end of July and Karlsson is still a member of the Senators. Time for the Anaheim Ducks to swoop in and bring the NHL’s best defenseman to Southern California.
Making it happen would be very complicated. There are several factors that need to be considered. Among them are Karlsson’s expiring contract at the end of the season, the NHL salary cap, and how serious Ottawa is about mandating Bobby Ryan be included a Karlsson trade.
Still, there are good reasons to believe that a trade between the Ducks and Sens can benefit all parties.
Why Karlsson should want the Ducks
The are plenty of reasons why Anaheim is a good destination for Erik Karlsson and his family. Where to start.
The Anaheim Ducks have a dual team. The first part is Anaheim’s veteran core. Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Ryan Kesler, and Patrick Eaves are all over 33 years old. As a group, their time is coming to an end.
Then there is a strong group of young players led by Rickard Rakell, and Hampus Lindholm who are under 25. That group includes an impressive array of up and coming talent who are yet to make their mark in the NHL but are very talented.
Karlsson joining the team would add to the in-between group. He would be part of the next wave of team leadership with Adam Henrique, and Cam Fowler. They would be the bridge between eras and take the forefront in bringing the Anaheim Ducks into the new NHL.
If there is anyplace in the world someone who wants a fresh start would want to go, Orange County should be at the top of the list. Between the beach, golf, and many other amenities in the area, Karlsson, and his family can recharge and move on.
One of the reasons Karlsson wants to go to Tampa is his relationship with Bolts defenseman Victor Hedman. Originally, it might have been a good idea, but Hoffman wound up being traded to the Florida Panthers. The Lightning and Cats play each other at least four times a season and possibly more if they meet up in the playoffs. Why not ditch the guy by heading to the opposite coast?
Making the Deal work for Anaheim
For the Anaheim Ducks part, making a deal for Karlsson has quite a few hitches. First and foremost is his expiring contract. There is no way Anaheim can make a deal work for them if Karlsson doesn’t sign an extension to stay with the team. GM Bob Murray would have to work on a new contract with Karlsson’s agent before a deal is finalized.
That won’t be easy either. He turned down an eight-year, $80M offer from Ottawa at the beginning of the month. Karlsson’s refusal to come to terms with his team was seen as him wanting to get out of town. Tampa Bay who had pursued him heavily was willing to give the two-time Norris Trophy winner a similar offer. Unfortunately for the Lightning, they couldn’t make a trade happen with their current salary cap constrictions.
Anaheim may not have the cap room other teams do, but they are in better shape to add an impact player than Tampa. A trade on the Ducks end would require moving out some salaries. One player that has to go back to the Sens is Jakob Silfverberg and his expiring $3.75M contract.
Additionally, the Ducks would have to part with some other veterans. It’s likely that one or even two of Brandon Montour, Cam Fowler, Hampus Lindholm, and Josh Manson would join Silfverberg in Ottawa. That would open up somewhere between another four to eight million additional dollars in cap space.
Before you balk at what the Ducks would have to send back, remember that Erik Karlsson is one of the best players on the planet. A talent such as his, in the prime of his career, doesn’t become available very often. If you want to bring in talent, you have to give something back. It won’t be cheap.