One of the worst and best, NHL trades happened 4 years ago
On this day, four years ago, one of the worst, and best, NHL trades happened. Depends which side you're on!
Erik Karlsson was arguably the best defenseman in the NHL when the Ottawa Senators traded him to the San Jose Sharks on September 13th, 2018. The Sharks then signed the defenseman to an eight-year, $92 million extension, with an AAV of $11.5 million on June 17th, 2019.
In return, the Senators acquired Chris Tierney, Rudolfs Balcers, Dylan Demelo, Josh Norris and an unprotected 2020 first-round draft pick. The pick would end up being the third overall pick in 2020 in which Ottawa selected Tim Stutzle.
In nine seasons with the Senators, Karlsson was a two-time Norris Trophy winner and recorded at least 15 goals five times and at least 60 points six times (career-high 71 in 2016-17). Since coming to the Sharks, he's scored 10 goals just once in four seasons, and his best season was 45 points in 2018-19.
The two main pieces Ottawa received were Norris and Stuzle. Norris, 23, just finished his second full season and scored a career-high 35 goals and has 90 points in 125 games. Norris also just signed an eight-year, $63.6 million extension with an AAV of $7.95 million.
Stutzle just completed his second season as well, in which he collected 22 goals and 36 assists, and also signed an max eight-year extension with an AAV of $8.35 million.
