Erik Karlsson won’t commit to re-signing with a Canadian team

Erik Karlsson will remain the subject of trade rumors until further notice, but he he reportedly has a preference for where he’ll play beyond this season.

After he reportedly rejected a contract extension earlier this summer, Erik Karlsson sealed the idea he’s done with the Ottawa Senators after no more than one more season. Trade rumors aren’t going away anytime soon.

Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet recently refueled the speculation with a report talks are picking up, while pointing to Western Conference teams as the most likely destinations.

Most specifically, Friedman reported the Vancouver Canucks had stepped up their interest in Karlsson. But general manager Jim Benning pretty quickly refuted that, pointing to an unwillingness to trade any 2019 draft picks.

Karlsson would probably like to play for a winning team too, not one coming off a season with the second-lowest point total in the Western Conference like Vancouver.

But even if the Canucks were willing to give up the farm for Karlsson, a couple of recent reports would have them reconsidering it.

Karlsson reportedly prefers to play in a U.S. market, and won’t sign (or re-sign) with a team in Canada.

So that necessarily eliminates the Canucks, the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Montreal Canadiens or any other team north of the border that may see Karlson as a significant missing piece.

The Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars, San Jose Sharks and Vegas Golden Knights have been at the front of the line with the heaviest rumored interest in Karlsson. So his apparent desire to play for a U.S.-based team bodes well for all four.

But any trade to get Karlsson in the shorter term would have to come with an assurance of a long-term commitment, and that’s where it may get complicated.

The top of the market for defenseman was reset in early July, when Drew Doughty signed an eight-year, $88 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Kings.

Karlsson is the same age (28), and arguably a better player, so he has a strong argument to command a deal worth as much or more than Doughty’s.

So any team interested in Karlsson would ideally have plenty of cap space looking toward next summer, or be willing to create it, to go along with ample prospect/draft pick capital to get Ottawa’s attention in a trade.

A move before the season starts is still possible, but Karlsson is far more likely to be on the move when the trade deadline nears.