<p>It’s now been seven years since Erik Karlsson was dealt from the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/ottawa-senators/line-combinations" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ottawa Senators</a>, and it feels like he hasn’t been the same since he left. Yes, he did have his best offensive season when he had 101 points with the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/san-jose-sharks/line-combinations" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">San Jose Sharks</a> in 2022-23 to capture his third Norris Trophy, but he hasn’t been the consistent top-five defenseman since he was with the Senators, who had to move on from him as they began their rebuild.</p>



<p>But now that the Senators are on the rise, and in need of a veteran, puck-moving defenseman on the back end, could a reunion make sense for the two? He may be the best option on the market for Ottawa, and perhaps that sense of familiarity may rejuvenate the 35-year-old for just a little bit longer.</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="134"></div>



<p>Tyler Yaremchuk and Matt Larkin talked about if Karlsson returning to the Senators makes sense on Daily Faceoff Live.</p>



<p><strong>Tyler Yaremchuk: </strong>A lot of people always go, “Oh, the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/carolina-hurricanes/line-combinations" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Carolina Hurricanes</a> would be a fit [for Karlsson].” They have Shayne Gostisbehere to run one power play. I would imagine that Alex Nikishin is going to have some role on the power play.</p>



<p>This is just me throwing out it because it’s a fun story, but what about Ottawa if you could find a way to make it work? Isn’t that a nice homecoming, and on a team that wants to presumably take another step forward? I like that idea.</p>



<p><strong>Matt Larkin: </strong>I think that [Ottawa] is another really good fit. They’re playing Nick Jensen up in the lineup with the second pair with Thomas Chabot. But ideally, Jensen could be a luxury third-pair defenseman. You do have a Jordan Spence coming in now on the right side, so you have to figure that out.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="164"></div>



<p>But in terms of just mobility and leadership and just a fun story at a reasonable price on retained money, I think Erik Karlsson coming home would make a lot of sense. Especially because, of course, his wife Melinda Curry, they met in Ottawa, so that would be a homecoming for their family too.</p>



<p>So I totally see it, and especially with Ottawa on the rise. You know Erik Karlsson wants a chance to chase a Stanley Cup, it’d be kind of fun. He hasn’t really had a good run at it since he was there in 2017, and maybe this is the fit that he needs.</p>



<p>You can watch the full episode here…</p>



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