Erik Karlsson not skating yet, 'a long shot' for Senators opener

Jim Cerny

Erik Karlsson not skating yet, 'a long shot' for Senators opener image

NEW YORK -- Erik Karlsson was in the Big Apple Wednesday, taking part in the NHL's preseason Media Tour, and told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun that he has not skated since undergoing surgery on his left foot in June and is unsure if he will be ready to play by Opening Night.

 

 

Later in the day, Karlsson spoke with nhl.com and admitted, "it's going to be a long shot" for him to play in the Oct. 5 season opener against the Capitals in Ottawa.

"Everything is healed and I should be fine to be able to push it by then, but if I don't feel ready, then it's probably going to be better for me to not start the season," said Karlsson. "I'll be back sometime in October for sure."

Karlsson originally suffered two hairline fractures in his foot during the Senators' first-round playoff series against the Bruins. In fact, Karlsson surprised many by not only playing through the pain, but speaking publicly about the injury.

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In the second round against the Rangers, Karlsson left Game Four early with an ankle issue; and then in the Eastern Conference Final against the Penguins, Karlsson left Game Five prematurely because of the combined foot/ankle issues. Shortly after the Senators lost a heartbreaking seventh game in double overtime to the Penguins, Karlsson underwent surgery on his left foot and ankle. Though his rehab has reportedly gone without a hitch, Karlsson is apparently not prepared to take the final big step on to the ice.

Despite the injuries, Karlsson, the two-time Norris Trophy winner and four-time First Team NHL All-Star, was outstanding during last spring's playoff run, leading Ottawa with 18 points in 19 games. He was the NHL's sixth-leading scorer in the postseason and ranked third with 16 assists.

"We went to the best guy in the world for these types of procedures and even though it was a little more complicated than we thought it was going to be, he still believes it will be a full recovery," Karlsson explained to nhl.com. "It's just going to take time and since I lost all my tendons, and I have an artificial one, that's why I needed to take extra time to make sure that my body adapts to the "new thing" in me."

Last season, Karlsson paired with Marc Methot to form Ottawa's top-pair on defense. However, Methot was selected by the Golden Knights in the expansion draft -- and subsequently moved on to the Dallas Stars -- and now Karlsson may not be ready to start the season, leaving a big hole on Ottawa's back end.

The Sens did sign veteran two-time Cup winner Johnny Oduya this summer, and do have rugged veteran Dion Phaneuf, who has slid into a second-pair role in Ottawa. That, though leaves a string of younger players -- led by regulars Cody Ceci and Fredrik Claesson and up-and-comers Ben Harpur and Thomas Chabot -- to battle for increased ice time, at least to start the 2017-18 campaign.

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While Karlsson did speak briefly with LeBrun and more extensively with the league's web site, he did not answer questions about his health while attending the Declaration of Principles press conference in midtown Manhattan on Wednesday. Karlsson joined Kevin Shattenkirk of the Rangers and Seth Jones of the Blue Jackets in representing the NHLPA to promote this initiative targeted at children and supported by 17 world organizations, including the NHL, Hockey Canada, USA Hockey, NWHL and the players association.

"Growing up I really wasn't the best at anything, but eventually I got pretty good," Karlsson explained from the stage Wednesday. "Many of the friends I played with went on to other careers, but we all hold on to the principles we learned growing up playing this game. That's what we are trying to pass along here (with the Declaration of Principles)."

Jim Cerny