Lagoon wrote:Cap'n Clutch wrote:So, can we put the Karlsson trade rumors to bed now? Are we building around him or what? I assume if we still have a chance of locking up Karlsson that would help us also keep Stone and Duchene. We're not that far off if we can stay healthy. Let the young guys play more. and bring in another top 6 winger and top 6 D.
Yes. Could’ve put them to bed the instant we drafted Tkachuk.
If Melnyk is still the owner around the trade deadline, you can gladly start believing the media again.
Please tell me you don't believe that drafting Tkachuk has meant Karlsson won't be traded. The two are unrelated, as they were using the draft pick regardless of whether Karlsson was traded or not. Ottawa is not even close to signing Karlsson. There has not be a single conversation between the agent and the team in the last 3 weeks, and Karlsson is still not even considering staying in Ottawa long term.
Stone won't address long term future in Ottawa, and his signing of a 1 year deal likely means he's decided to leave if the team doesn't improve it's future (either by trading EK and getting an impact package back, or keeping EK and Duchene). Add to that, there is talk among wives that Melinda and EK hired a realestate consultant to provide them with a list of potential houses in the Tampa Area.
I believe EK will be here at least until December, long enough to ensure Ottawa's standings are high enough to ensure they are not bottom 3 in the league. They will still have to ask him for his no trade list and from what I understand they are toying with the idea of playing dirty pool and putting teams on it they know want to make a deal with Ottawa, so that the only team realistically that will trade for him is Tampa.
As it stands today, EK will be a lightning next July 2, regardless of what Ottawa does with him. He has zero plans to resign in Ottawa or any other team except Tampa if he's traded there. But then again, apparently I'm full of Dung.