As the hockey world watches with baited breath to see where Erik Karlsson will land various actors are working the background. There are several moving parts at the moment that are causing this trade to drag on as long as it has. First, the Ottawa Senators are far and away the most dysfunctional franchise in the entire NHL.
Then, there is a matter of making the salaries work. Being that Karlsson is looking for a seven year extension for at least $10 million per season the Lightning would need to move salary.
However, should the Lightning find a way to make the salaries work, they would immediately jump to being the favorite to win the Stanley Cup.