Recent trade talks between the Ottawa Senators and the Dallas Stars involving Erik Karlsson seem to have gone cold, and it’s obvious why — the Senators want top prospect Miro Heiskanen, and the Stars are unwilling to move him.
It might seem silly to many why the Stars would let someone who hasn’t played an NHL game get in the way of acquiring a two-time Norris Trophy winner, but a big reason has to do not with the players, but the salary cap:
No franchise can risk moving someone who looks so ready to step right into the NHL on an entry-level deal playing top-four minutes for a guy who is about to make $11 million annually.