Three questions facing Ottawa Senators

NHL.com is providing in-depth analysis for each of its 31 teams throughout August. Today, three important questions facing the Ottawa Senators.

Senators 31 IN 31: [Season preview | Top prospects | Fantasy breakdown | Behind the Numbers]

1. How long will Erik Karlsson remain in Ottawa?

This is a franchise-altering move, so the Senators have to get it right if they decide to trade Karlsson, who can become an unrestricted free agent July 1, 2019.
If you subscribe to the notion that the team getting the best player automatically wins a trade no matter the return, then the Senators would appear destined to get the short end of any transaction involving Karlsson. But a combination of established NHL players, high draft picks and blue-chip prospects is not an unreasonable ask for a two-time Norris Trophy winner as the best defenseman in the NHL (2012, 2015).
The Dallas Stars and Tampa Bay Lightning reportedly were interested last month, but nothing came of it. The Senators could wait until February, when teams that consider themselves a Stanley Cup contender might view Karlsson as the piece that will push them over the top.

2. Will the real Craig Anderson please stand up?

Anderson's struggles in net mirrored those of the rest of the Senators last season. He was their backbone with a 2.28 goals-against average and .926 save percentage in 2016-17, when they came within one goal of the Stanley Cup Final. Those numbers were significantly worse last season (3.32 GAA, .898 save percentage) when Ottawa finished 30 points behind the New Jersey Devils for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
If the Senators are serious about their youth movement, maybe it's time to turn to goalie Filip Gustavsson. Acquired in the trade that sent forward Derick Brassard to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Feb. 23, Gustavsson, 20, is 17 years younger than Anderson and was named the best goaltender at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship after helping Sweden win the silver medal.

3. What is the best course of action for Brady Tkachuk's development?

When Tkachuk, the No. 4 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, signed a three-year, entry-level contract Aug. 13, it left the Senators with four options:
a) He could play the entire season in the NHL.
b) He could be sent down to Belleville in the American Hockey League, where he'd get significantly more playing time.
c) He could be loaned to London of the Ontario Hockey League, the junior team that holds his rights.
d) He could play up to nine games for the Senators, after which b) or c) could happen.
The 18-year-old forward left Boston University after his freshman season because he feels ready for the NHL, even if some might not agree.
"At the end of the day, it's where the management thinks is best for me," Tkachuk said. "But I'm going to try my best to be on Ottawa for the whole year."