NHL Rumors: Dreger and Friedman on Erik Karlsson
Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson and Vegas Golden Knights forward William Karlsson

Dreger and Friedman comment on the Erik Karlsson situation

Chris Nichols of Nichols on Hockey: Darren Dreger was on TSN 1050 and was commenting how the Ottawa Senators can’t win an Erik Karlsson trade no matter how many assets they get back.

“I know one of the teams involved made a pretty substantial offer, I would say several weeks or so ago, and I’m told that there were six elements to it. So you’re talking about at least a couple of roster players, at least a couple of prospects, and at least a couple of draft picks. Now, some of that is conditional on whether Erik Karlsson would sign with that team.”

Dreger wonders what it will be like in the dressing room if Karlsson is still around at the start of the season as it does have in impact.

Chris Nichols of Nichols on Hockey: Elliotte Friedman was on NHL Network and was asked if Nate Schmidt’s suspension improves the odds of the Vegas Golden Knights trading for Erik Karlsson.

“I think we have to be careful because I think there have been some times where it looked like it was close and it obviously didn’t happen,” cautioned Friedman. “There were a lot of people who thought that Karlsson was going to Vegas at the deadline and it didn’t happen. Ottawa wanted Cody Glass and Vegas didn’t want to do that. So that was a situation where we were close.

“It looked like potentially we were close – it was reported we were close in early July – we weren’t. I had heard last week that there had been some traction – obviously it hasn’t happened.

Friedman continues that he believes the Senators have made it clear that they will hold on to Karlsson until they get what they want.

Friedman predicts reluctantly that it’s possible that Karlsson gets traded before the start of the season.