Everything points to EK wanting to try the market next year.
He wants out of Ottawa, it won’t negotiate or sign an extension with a new team if traded, and by all accounts is hesitant or unwilling to agree to a sign and trade.
He’ll likely get moved by Ottawa at some point, for an underwhelming return, and, in my opinion, will be UFA July 1st.
Then he get to choose his team and get paid at the same time.
ps: weird times when Tavares leaves the Isles as a UFA and now Karlsson is going to be leaving the Sens, likely the same way.
When was the last time, 2 top tier players walked in UFA within a year of each other?