TAMPA, Fla — A typically honest, polite and forthright Erik Karlsson was again all of those things when discussing the Senators' stunningly poor season and his own future in Ottawa with reporters Saturday morning at the NHL All-Star media day.
After being asked a series of questions about the All-Star Weekend, spending time with players from other teams and other non-controversial topics, Karlsson answered several about the swirling controversies with the Senators. After Karlsson answered each difficult question with lengthy, thoughtful replies, a reporter said, "Sorry to ruin your party," to which the Sens captain replied, "No worries."
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Karlsson acknowledged that the Senators are "going to have to make changes" and admitted "this is something we've brought upon ourselves." He added that now is not the time to address his own future with the club, the summer more appropriate to "sit back and reflect on the things I want in my career."
The 27-year-old captain of the Sens is the team's lone All Star representative. He has 31 points in 42 games, coming back from off-season ankle surgery. His plus/minus rating is an unsightly -24 and he has just one point in his last seven games.
Ottawa has only 15 wins and 39 points, and is just one point out of the basement in the East. That the Senators are in this position after taking the Penguins to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final last spring is fairly stunning.
"Everybody knows that we are in a tough situation right now. It's something we've brought upon ourselves, and it's not something you want to go through," Karlsson explained. "We have to find a way to become the team we want to be and try and build something, whether it's for this year or next, so that is exciting."
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