Erik Karlsson is preparing for a highly anticipated raise, and made it clear that he isn't willing to accept any sort of hometown discount when he becomes a free agent in 2019.
Karlsson has been fantastic since returning from offseason ankle injury, scoring one goal and 16 assists in 18 games. Through 574 career contests with the Senators, the captain has accumulated 473 total points. Karlsson's seven year/$45.5 million contract is set to expire following next season and when discussing the matter after practice on Thursday, the Swede stated that he intends to receive exactly what he's worth.
The following is an excerpt from The Sun:
When I go to market, I’m going to get what I’m worth, and it’s going to be no less, no matter where I’m going.“ That’s the business part of it. That’s the way every player has been treated ever since this league has started, and I think the players have been a little bit on the other side of things when it comes to negotiations. I think it’s time to realize that when we go to the table, it’s business on both parts, not just (owners).
Karlsson currently sits third on the team with an annual cap hit of $6.5 million behind Dion Phaneuf ($7 million) and Bobby Ryan ($7.25). As it stands, his cap hit is the 10th highest amongst NHL defenders, a modest number when you consider his numbers over the years. He later added that he enjoys playing for the organization, but insinuated he would be prepared to move if the proper deal cannot be reached.
The following is an excerpt from The Sun:
“I like it here, I’m comfortable here, I’ve been here my whole career,” he said. “It’s something that I invested all my time in and something I would like to see all the way through. But at the end of the day, when it comes down to it, if it’s not the right fit and it’s not going to work out business-wise, then you’re going to have to look elsewhere because that’s what (owners) are going to do, as well.”
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The Senators could elect to re-sign Karlsson in the next year and a half but risk losing him in free agency if they are unable to strike a deal before then. There's still plenty of time for the club to finalize a decision, but it's clear that Karlsson plans on receiving exactly what he's worth. With two Norris trophies already under his belt, Ottawa is going to have to cough up a lot of dough.
(H/T The Ottawa Sun)
