The Edmonton Oilers tried to trade Milan Lucic, but no takers
Edmonton Journal: David Staples reports no one is sure if Milan Lucic did or didn’t ask for a trade, or if the Edmonton Oilers asked Lucic’s camp to explore one. There’s enough smoke around the notion that both sides were working together on a trade that I take that as what transpired. Staples best guess is the Oilers tried to make a deal, even as it was always unlikely that would occur due to Lucic’s major slump in 2017-18 and his huge contract and term. Nothing came of it, so the parties when to Plan B, which is for Lucic to return and give his all as an Edmonton Oilers player and see what happens next.
Latest Erik Karlsson trade rumors
THE ATHLETIC: Chris Stevenson reports Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson is pleased with the progress he’s made on his surgically-repaired left ankle which hampered his performance last season. He said he expects it will be much better for next season. While Karlsson was willing to discuss the condition of his ankle, he didn’t want to talk about the trade rumors that swirled about him earlier this month. Stevenson noted talk of an imminent trade have grown quiet. He said Karlsson rejected an eight-year contract extension from the Senators that was competitive with the $88-million deal recently signed by Drew Doughty with the Los Angeles Kings, but the Sens offer didn’t come with signing bonuses like that of Toronto’s John Tavares. Stevenson believes Sens GM Pierre Dorion doesn’t intend to lose Karlsson to free agency for nothing next summer. If the Senators don’t come up with a better offer, Stevenson believes Karlsson will be dealt before the 2019 NHL trade deadline.
The Senators want a substantial return for Karlsson, with a good young defenceman as part of the package. They reportedly sought top prospect Miro Heiskanen from the Stars and promising Mikhail Sergachev from the Tampa Bay Lightning.
