Apr 2, 2018; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) skates with the puck the puck in the first period against the Winnipeg Jets at Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

The Erik Karlsson trade rumors are heating up once again. The 28-year-old star defenseman has been at the heart of several trade rumors over the last several months, but to date there hasn’t been a deal that’s moved Karlsson away from the Ottawa Senators.

Now, it appears that there may be teams in the Western Conference, such as Vancouver, who want to work out a deal for Karlsson.

Karlsson has one year left on his current contract and is going to pick up a big raise. As the Senators crumble around Karlsson both on and off the ice (seriously, it’s been a mess), the odds of Karlsson signing any kind of extension with the team has ranged between slim, none and laughable. The team might as well move him and try to pick up a bunch of assets before it’s too late.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this report is the mention of the Canucks. The Canucks have missed the playoffs in four of the last five seasons and are right in the middle of their rebuild. Adding a player like Karlsson would go a long way in pushing that rebuild along, but it remains to be seen whether or not he’d be willing to sign a new contract with a team that has a fairly uncertain future. The Canucks would need to convince him that the future is bright before shelling out any prospects or picks.

Karlsson had a “down” season last year, scoring “just” 62 points in 71 games. While he has his critics, he’s an incredible talent and is capable of offensive numbers that some forwards can only dream about. He’s a dynamic player who will be an immediate upgrade for any team that acquires him. The report from Elliotte Friedman didn’t mention any other teams, but it’s fair to assume there’s a long list of interested parties.

About David Rogers

Editor for The Comeback and Contributing Editor for Awful Announcing. Lover of hockey, soccer and all things pop culture.