Report: Sens offered Karlsson $80M; now deep in trade talks

The Ottawa Senators' contract offer todefencemanErikKarlssonwas for eightyears and $80 million US, and they are now in serious trade talks with multiplehighly interested suitors, according to an NBC Sports report on Tuesday.

Senators general manager PierreDorionsaid Sunday the team had offeredKarlssonwho is entering the final year of a seven-year, $45 million dealhe signed in June of 2012an extension, but declined to discuss anythingfurther.

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NBC's figures are the first details to be reported on the offer,which would average $1 million less annually than the extension defenceman Drew Doughtysigned with the Los Angeles Kings on Friday.

The New York Post reported Monday that with their offer declined theSenators have given interested teams permission to discuss an extension withKarlsson, which could clear the way for a trade.

Various reports on Tuesday indicated there are several interested suitors,including the Dallas Stars,New York Rangers, New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning andVegas Golden Knights, who reportedly came close to acquiring the two-timeNorris Trophy winner at the trade deadline in February.

The key to getting a deal done could be a team's willingness to also take backBobby Ryan's contract, which has four years and $30 million remaining. InFebruary, Vegas reportedly was not inclined to give up a package of multiple
first-round picks and a top prospect while also taking back Ryan.

Karlsson is believed to be seeking a deal on par with Doughty's, which set themark for NHL defencemen and includes a no-trade clause for the first fouryears, along with a modified no-trade clause for the final four years.

Doughty is about six months older than Karlsson who turned 28 at the end ofMay and has been a Norris finalist four times, winning once.

Karlsson has won the Norris twice and been runner-up twice, while tallying 355points (83 goals, 272 assists) in 394 games in five seasons since becoming theSenators' captain. He scored just nine goals last season his fewest since
2012-13 while missing 11 games, but his 53 assists tied for third among allNHL defencemen.

Karlsson ranks third in franchise history in both assists (392) and points(518), and ninth in goals scored (126).

Trade speculation has swirled around Karlsson for much of the last year,helping fuel the fire of fans who oppose owner Eugene Melnyk.

Former Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson who said in May "we hope we get anew owner" told reporters this spring that Karlsson wants to remain withthe team, "but it's not all in his hands." Alfredsson played with Karlsson forfour years in Ottawa and also on the Swedish national team at the 2014Olympics.