Erik Karlsson is no rental in Doug Wilson's eyes.
The San Jose Sharks general manager envisions the superstar defenseman as part of the club's future beyond the upcoming season.
"It's a long-term approach and we think Erik fits for now and for a long time," Wilson told reporters, including The Athletic's Craig Custance, after landing Karlsson in a trade with the Ottawa Senators on Thursday.
The all-world blue-liner is a pending unrestricted free agent entering the final year of the seven-year, $45-million pact he inked with the Senators in 2012, at a cap hit of $6.5 million.
Karlsson didn't want to talk about the likelihood of an extension with the Sharks when asked about it in the aftermath of the trade.
"As for right now, that's a private discussion and not something I'm going to elaborate on," he said on a conference call Thursday, according to NHL.com's Nick Cotsonika.
The Sharks have some decisions to make for 2019-20, as 34-year-old captain Joe Pavelski and 39-year-old franchise fixture Joe Thornton are also pending UFAs.
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