Karlsson trade confirms Senators in rebuilding mode

Erik Karlsson being traded by the Ottawa Senators confirmed the rebuilding mode they have been speaking about all offseason.

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"This was not an easy situation for us, to trade a player of Erik Karlsson's caliber," general manager Pierre Dorion said after making the trade Thursday. "But for us to be where we need to be for the long term in this rebuild, we had to make this decision at this point in time."
Ottawa traded Karlsson and forward Francis Perron to the San Jose Sharks for forwards Chris Tierney and Rudolfs Balcers, defenseman Dylan DeMelo, unsigned forward Joshua Norris, a first-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft or 2020 NHL Draft, a second-round pick in the 2019 draft, and two conditional draft picks.
Karlsson, a two-time Norris Trophy winner (2012, 2015), led the Senators in scoring each of the past five seasons and has 518 points (126 goals, 392 assists) in 627 NHL games. The 28-year-old defenseman has one season remaining on a seven-year, $45.5 million contract he signed with Ottawa on June 19, 2012.
If San Jose signs Karlsson to a contract extension, Ottawa receives a second-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft that could become a first-round pick if the Sharks make the 2019 Stanley Cup Final.
"I don't think that I ever, in my wildest imagination, ever thought that I would leave this place," Karlsson said. "But unfortunately we're here under these circumstances. I was prepared to come here and work hard for this team. I still have a year on my deal, and unfortunately, I couldn't follow that through."
After advancing to the Eastern Conference Final in 2016-17, when they lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in seven games, the Senators finished 30th in NHL last season and admitted they needed to overhaul their roster with speed, skill and youth. Only the Detroit Red Wings (28.9 average age) had an older roster than Ottawa (28.5).

Tierney, 24, and DeMelo, 25, will play with the Senators right away, and Balcers, 21, and Norris, 19, join an already plentiful prospect pool.
Brady Tkachuk, 18, who was selected by the Senators with the No. 4 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, could earn an NHL spot this season in the top six forwards. Colin White, 21, who had six points (two goals, four assists) in 21 games last season, is on the verge of becoming a full-time NHL forward. Defenseman Christian Wolanin, 23, impressed with his strength, vision and poise during a late-season stint after he signed a two-year, entry-level contract out of the University of North Dakota. Forward Drake Batherson, 20, was fourth in points per game in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League last season with 77 points (29 goals, 48 assists) in 51 games for Blainville-Boisbriand.
Though the Senators have said rookies will be given the opportunity to play, they also know they need a veteran core of talent and leadership in order to succeed. With Karlsson gone, that starts with forwards Matt Duchene and Mark Stone. With each in the final year of his contract, signing them long term is a top priority.
"We want to be a Cup contending team year after year," Dorion said. "We just don't want to have the inconsistencies that we've had in the past 10 years of making the [Stanley Cup Playoffs], not making the playoffs. Erik Karlsson, for what it seemed like, was probably going to be here for just another year. What we did here today was make sure that our rebuild was going to be as successful as possible."
Dorion wouldn't give a timetable for how long he expects the rebuild to take, but with Senators training camp starting Friday, the players are embracing the role of underdogs. Ottawa begins the season against the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 4.
"[The Karlsson trade] doesn't change at all the mindset of the players in the room," forward Zack Smith said. "You can call it what you want, a rebuild or we're pushing for the Cup this year. We're going to go out there, we're going to win as many games as we can, and we're going to do our best to put ourselves in a good playoff position."