The San Jose Sharks shocked the hockey world on Thursday afternoon after acquiring Erik Karlsson in a deal with the Ottawa Senators. In return, Ottawa received current players, prospects, and draft picks.
It’s not every day that you see an elite player like Karlsson get traded in his prime. The 28-year-old is just a few years removed from winning two Norris trophies and will now head to a Sharks team that also features Brent Burns, Logan Couture and Joe Pavelski. After hearing the news, fans took to Twitter to express their thoughts. Some remained positive, while others weren’t as thrilled with move. Fans also made sure to thank Karlsson for his time with the team.
The trade had its share of critics, but it could be years until fans find out how the trade turns out. The Sharks will obviously benefit short-term, but in five year's time this could end up looking like a reasonable deal on the Senators’ end. After trading Mike Hoffman earlier this summer, it’s clear this team is looking well-ahead into the future.
In 627 games with the Sens, EK65 tallied 618 regular season points along with 37 in 48 playoff games. He should fare well playing alongside a talented core in San Jose.
