NHL Rumors: San Jose Sharks, and the Ottawa Senators
The San Jose Sharks meet with Erik Karlsson agent. The Ottawa Senators make an offer to Mark Stone
Karlsson’s agent meets with Sharks GM

Emily Sadler of Sportsnet: The agent for San Jose Sharks pending unrestricted free agent defenseman Erik Karlsson, Don Meehan, met with GM Doug Wilson on Friday. Contract talks have started according to Chris Johnston.

“His agent, Don Meehan, was down yesterday to meet with Sharks general manager Doug Wilson, and this is essentially the start of the dialogue on his future,” Johnston said during Saturday’s Headlines segment on Hockey Night in Canada. “They’d left it through the first half of the season, wanting to give both sides a chance to get comfortable, and now they’re talking a little bit.”

Karlsson missed last night’s game with an injury.

Senators make Stone an offer

Emily Sadler of Sportnet: Ottawa Senators GM Pierre met with Mark Stone‘s agent last week and presented him with an offer according to Nick Kypreos.

“Told the visit was for Pierre Dorion to show how serious the Ottawa Senators are in re-signing Matt Duchene,” Kypreos said during Saturday’s Headlines segment on Hockey Night in Canada. “And along with those discussions came an offer. I’m told it’s in the ballpark or the vicinity of $64 million over eight years.”

Kypreos adds that he thinks it’s a fair offer for Stone.

If they can’t agree on an extension and Dorion is told that Stone wants to test the free agent market, it could take a couple weeks for Dorion to put together the best possible deal.

“I would think that would probably come with a soft deadline as well,” Kypreos said of Duchene’s offer. “If this isn’t the basis to get a long-term deal done, I would think Pierre Dorion would need at least two weeks to shop him and get the best deal available.”

Friedman adds that he thinks they also presented something to fellow pending UFA Matt Duchene.

“I think that they’re following a similar path with Mark Stone,” said Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. “They met with Stone on Monday, a couple of days before they met with Matt Duchene. I believe they also presented something that they are willing to take a look at, an idea of where the Senators are willing to go.”

Not sure what the numbers would be, but they are likely higher for Stone than Duchene according to Friedman.