Greg Wyshynski, senior NHL writer: To set the scene: Karlsson recently told the Ottawa Sun that he's not going to give the Senators a hometown discount when he hits unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2019. This sparked some league-wide speculation about his future in Ottawa, with "Hockey Night In Canada" analyst Nick Kypreos saying Senators owner Eugene Melnyk was upset over the declaration and Elliotte Friedman reporting that the Senators asked Karlsson for his list of approved teams for a trade -- something he said was procedural, but no less intriguing.
Whether the Senators trade Karlsson is almost two different questions, depending entirely on Karlsson's aspirations.