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SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) – The San Jose Sharks on Thursday won defenseman Erik Karlsson, a two-time winner of the Ottawa Senators' Norris Trophy. free agency.
General Manager Doug Wilson stood firm for most of the summer after Tavares signed with Toronto before fighting when another superstar was available the day before the camp 's opening. training in San Jose. Karlsson joins one of the best defensive teams in the league alongside Brent Burns, winner of the 2017 Norris Trophy, and defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic.
"It's extremely rare for players of this caliber to become available," said Wilson. "The word" elite "is often used casually, but Erik 's skills and abilities fit this description, like few other players in the game today. With Erik, Brent Burns and Marc-Edouard Vlasic, we think we have three of the best NHL defensemen and we are a better team today than yesterday. We are delighted to welcome Erik and his wife, Melinda, to San Jose. "
San Jose will send the Senators a first round pick in 2019 or 2020, a second round pick in 2019, forwards Chris Tierney, Josh Norris and Rudolfs Balcers, defenseman Dylan DeMelo and two draft picks. The sharks also advance Francis Perron.
Ottawa also gets a second-round pick in 2021 if Karlsson signs back with the Sharks. This choice becomes a first if the Sharks win the Stanley Cup final in 2019. The Senators will also receive a first round in 2021 or 2022 if Karlsson is on a list of the Eastern Conference this season.
"Ultimately, to acquire a player like this, you have to give to get and we lose quality players, but also very good people," Wilson said. "All players leaving our organization have a very promising future in this league and we wish them the best."
Karlsson, 28, still has one year on the contract and has been rumored by the trade deadline. The Senators finally got an agreement on the eve of the training camp.
In Karlsson, which has had the highest number of defensemen since joining the NHL in 2009, was 518 points, San Jose gets the difference he's hoping for from Tavares in free agency. Karlsson won Norris as the best defender of the league in 2012 and 2015.
"It's a good time to rebuild our team and shape our future with a faster, younger and more competitive team on the ice," said Senators general manager Pierre Dorion. "We will build a culture of consistency that will allow this team to maintain better long-term performance."
Karlsson had nine goals and 53 assists last season for Ottawa. He also led the team in the mean ice time (26:44, 3rd in the NHL), finished second in blocked (120) and back (55) and second in 62 (nine goals, 53). aid).
Karlsson also has six goals and 31 assists in 48 playoff games.
This is only the last big exchange made by Wilson, who also acquired Joe Thornton, Burns and Evander Kane in trades over the years.
The Sharks made this addition without giving up one of the first six forwards or defenders. Tierney, 24, played the biggest role for San Jose among players traded in Ottawa, spending much of the year as a third-row center. He has had career highs with 17 goals and 23 assists and has played 82 games. He has 41 goals and 63 assists in 284 career games.
DeMelo played mainly on San Jose's third defensive pair last season when he had no goals and 20 assists in 63 games.
Balcers spent last season in AHL and Norris was a first-round pick in 2017 and began his second season in Michigan.
Perron was selected in the seventh round in 2014 and has spent the last two seasons in the AHL.
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Stephen Whyno, author of AP Hockey, contributed to this report.
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More NHL AP: https://apnews.com/tag/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports
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