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Contract talks going really well: Karlsson
If Erik Karlsson winds up missing a single day of training camp, it will be because NHL players and owners can't come to terms on a new CBA.
It will have nothing to do with his own contract situation.
Asked if he might pull a Drew Doughty to get the deal he wants, the Senators star defenceman said Friday he just doesn't see it happening.
"Obviously, I want to get everything done before the season starts," Karlsson said via conference call from Sweden. "I want to come over like I would in August and work out and have a good time and see everybody again. In these kind of things, if they come to a certain point where both sides aren't agreeing on things ... hopefully that's not going to be my situation.
"Even though we're early in the discussions, I think we both have a very good dialogue about how things are going to get done. (GM) Bryan (Murray) is a reasonable person. I respect him a lot. I think he knows what to do and the guys I have on my side are very professional as well. They know what to do. Hopefully, it's not going to be an issue where we don't see eye-to-eye and don't agree on things.
"I'm not going to do anything to jeopardize my future on the team."
Doughty employed a riskier strategy, although things ended up working out nicely for both the defenceman and the Los Angeles Kings. Nine months after staging a two-week holdout to get an eight-year, $56 million deal, Doughty and the his teammates hoisted the Stanley Cup Monday.
Karlsson, who figures to end up with a similar salary. will become a restricted free agent July 1 if he doesn't reach a deal with the Senators before that date. Negotiations are expected to continue prior to the NHL awards Wednesday in Las Vegas, where Karlsson is up for the Norris Trophy.
"I think we're still in the early stages of things, but everything has been going really well," Karlsson said. "I feel we have no rush. I think we know where we are with each other. I want to stay and they want to keep me. We have no real issues with each other. We also know that there's a lot of other things that need to be done as well.
"I don't think we're going to have any problems when it comes to signing a new contract."
While Doughty said he felt increased expectations after securing the big bucks, Karlsson expects added pressure to perform next season, too.
Bring it on, he said.
"I'm well aware about the expectations that are going to be (there for) me," said Karlsson, who notched 19 goals and 78 points to lead all NHL defenceman in 2011-12. "It's a thing that comes with this sport. It's something that's always going to be there and you just have to learn to deal with it. I'm going to do like I've done every year when I come over. I'm going to try and do my best and just keep doing that every night.
"The better you do on the ice, the more people are going to expect from you. Probably the toughest thing you can do is play at your highest level every night. It's something I'm going to have to try and figure out how to do."
Karlsson does figure he can reach similar offensive totals again.
"I don't think it was a one-thing-in-a-lifetime thing," he said. "At certain points in time, I was really lucky about things. That's what you need if you're going to put up a lot of numbers like I did. Hopefully I can have a better season next year. Where I'm going to end up in points, I have no idea or no real goal. I just want to keep developing my game."
Karlsson credited defence partner Filip Kuba for helping him make strides this past season. That marriage appears headed for divorce, however, as Murray has said Kuba likely can get more money on the free-agent market.
"I think Bryan and those guys know what to do," said Karlsson. "Whoever I end up playing with next year, it's probably going to be a good fit for me. If it's Kubs again, I'm going to be happy about that. If he decides to go somewhere else, that's fine, too. I think everybody in the organization has a pretty good plan about what's going to happen next year."
Karlsson, meanwhile, has been busy with his own wedding plans. He'll tie the knot with his fiancee, Therese, July 7 in Sweden.
"It's in three weeks so it's a bit stressful about some things, but I think we have everything under control," said Karlsson, who is enjoying his summer and "consistently" working out. "It's going to be a good day."
No conversation with Karlsson lately goes without mention of the name Daniel Alfredsson, and more specifically the captain's decision on whether to retire or not.
Karlsson remains hopeful Alfredsson chooses to play on
"He's in Ottawa right now and I know he's working out, we've talked a couple of times," said Karlsson. "Once he comes here in Sweden, I think we're going to talk some more. I haven't really heard anything about his decision. I don't think he really knows either yet. So it's just a wait-and-see thing.
"He had a great season last year. It's funny, I think it was a lot better than he was a couple of years ago. It's totally his decision about what he wants to do. All I know is he had a good year last year and he had a lot of fun along the way. Hopefully he'll decide to play another year, but if he doesn't it's totally fine, too. He's done so much already that he doesn't really have to prove anything anymore."
If Erik Karlsson winds up missing a single day of training camp, it will be because NHL players and owners can't come to terms on a new CBA.
It will have nothing to do with his own contract situation.
Asked if he might pull a Drew Doughty to get the deal he wants, the Senators star defenceman said Friday he just doesn't see it happening.
"Obviously, I want to get everything done before the season starts," Karlsson said via conference call from Sweden. "I want to come over like I would in August and work out and have a good time and see everybody again. In these kind of things, if they come to a certain point where both sides aren't agreeing on things ... hopefully that's not going to be my situation.
"Even though we're early in the discussions, I think we both have a very good dialogue about how things are going to get done. (GM) Bryan (Murray) is a reasonable person. I respect him a lot. I think he knows what to do and the guys I have on my side are very professional as well. They know what to do. Hopefully, it's not going to be an issue where we don't see eye-to-eye and don't agree on things.
"I'm not going to do anything to jeopardize my future on the team."
Doughty employed a riskier strategy, although things ended up working out nicely for both the defenceman and the Los Angeles Kings. Nine months after staging a two-week holdout to get an eight-year, $56 million deal, Doughty and the his teammates hoisted the Stanley Cup Monday.
Karlsson, who figures to end up with a similar salary. will become a restricted free agent July 1 if he doesn't reach a deal with the Senators before that date. Negotiations are expected to continue prior to the NHL awards Wednesday in Las Vegas, where Karlsson is up for the Norris Trophy.
"I think we're still in the early stages of things, but everything has been going really well," Karlsson said. "I feel we have no rush. I think we know where we are with each other. I want to stay and they want to keep me. We have no real issues with each other. We also know that there's a lot of other things that need to be done as well.
"I don't think we're going to have any problems when it comes to signing a new contract."
While Doughty said he felt increased expectations after securing the big bucks, Karlsson expects added pressure to perform next season, too.
Bring it on, he said.
"I'm well aware about the expectations that are going to be (there for) me," said Karlsson, who notched 19 goals and 78 points to lead all NHL defenceman in 2011-12. "It's a thing that comes with this sport. It's something that's always going to be there and you just have to learn to deal with it. I'm going to do like I've done every year when I come over. I'm going to try and do my best and just keep doing that every night.
"The better you do on the ice, the more people are going to expect from you. Probably the toughest thing you can do is play at your highest level every night. It's something I'm going to have to try and figure out how to do."
Karlsson does figure he can reach similar offensive totals again.
"I don't think it was a one-thing-in-a-lifetime thing," he said. "At certain points in time, I was really lucky about things. That's what you need if you're going to put up a lot of numbers like I did. Hopefully I can have a better season next year. Where I'm going to end up in points, I have no idea or no real goal. I just want to keep developing my game."
Karlsson credited defence partner Filip Kuba for helping him make strides this past season. That marriage appears headed for divorce, however, as Murray has said Kuba likely can get more money on the free-agent market.
"I think Bryan and those guys know what to do," said Karlsson. "Whoever I end up playing with next year, it's probably going to be a good fit for me. If it's Kubs again, I'm going to be happy about that. If he decides to go somewhere else, that's fine, too. I think everybody in the organization has a pretty good plan about what's going to happen next year."
Karlsson, meanwhile, has been busy with his own wedding plans. He'll tie the knot with his fiancee, Therese, July 7 in Sweden.
"It's in three weeks so it's a bit stressful about some things, but I think we have everything under control," said Karlsson, who is enjoying his summer and "consistently" working out. "It's going to be a good day."
No conversation with Karlsson lately goes without mention of the name Daniel Alfredsson, and more specifically the captain's decision on whether to retire or not.
Karlsson remains hopeful Alfredsson chooses to play on
"He's in Ottawa right now and I know he's working out, we've talked a couple of times," said Karlsson. "Once he comes here in Sweden, I think we're going to talk some more. I haven't really heard anything about his decision. I don't think he really knows either yet. So it's just a wait-and-see thing.
"He had a great season last year. It's funny, I think it was a lot better than he was a couple of years ago. It's totally his decision about what he wants to do. All I know is he had a good year last year and he had a lot of fun along the way. Hopefully he'll decide to play another year, but if he doesn't it's totally fine, too. He's done so much already that he doesn't really have to prove anything anymore."
