Ottawa reels from Karlsson deal: ‘Not gonna replace a guy like that’

Hockey world stunned: Karlsson finds the way to San Jose

“You’re never gonna replace a guy like that.”

Matt Duchene, 27-year-old center of the Ottawa Senators, summarizing  the trade of teammate Erik Karlsson, 2-time Norris Trophy winner and hero of the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs. 

 

“It would qualify as a shock if Erik Karlsson and wife Melinda don’t fall in love with San Jose.  Most big-name players who go there tend to stay for extended periods.”

Matt Larkin, The Hockey News, on the NHL’s buzziest trade of this offseason

 

“Ottawa is still fraught with a ton of controversy and unresolved scandals, but finally could dispense with the cloud of the Karlsson distraction hanging over them.  This return was dramatically underwhelming for the Senators, who traded a 28-year-old, best player in franchise history, for a third-line center, a No. 6 defenseman . . . and draft picks that are conditional and/or disappointing.”  

Aaron Gray, NHL Hockey

 

Football

“Yes I know you’ve got the rings . . . I’ve got a doctor’s degree in route-running, and you’ve got an associate’s degree from a community college.”

Steve Smith, retired receiver, to another retired receiver – Hall of Famer Michael Irvin — on NFL Network

 

“It’s a program that has fallen apart.  I’m hoping that Tom Herman can get it straightened out, but it doesn’t look great.”

Chris Simms, ESPN’s Pro Football Talk, on his alma mater, the University of Texas 

 

“We talked about the red zone all offseason, and then they come in and do nothing in the red zone.  And then they have big injuries: Keanu Neal is their Kam Chancellor, one of the best safeties in the sport.  And Deion Jones is their Bobby Wagner, one of the best linebackers in the sport.  So I’m low on the Falcons right now.”

Chris Simms, on the 2016 NFC champion Atlanta Falcons. 

 

“You can have the exact same play in your playbook from one year to another year and ask different guys to fit into those places.  Still a great play, but not nearly as effective when you don’t have the right guy playing the right role in that particular play.  . . .  I don’t see the Falcons nearly as detail-oriented as they were a couple of years ago.”

Kurt Warner, former Super Bowl quarterback, asked on The Jim Rome Show about the Falcons’ offense stalling under coordinator Steve Sarkisian

 

“I think they’re all sick of each other, but I don’t think any of them want to lose football games.”

Mark Leibovich, football reporter, author and New England Patriots fan, describing the testy and tested relationship of Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick and Tom Brady

 

“There’s a coach who was an offensive coordinator in Dallas. . . . It would take a trade, but Jerry Jones loves Sean Payton, and Sean Payton loves him.  I think that’s a guy he might go after if he decides to change head coaches.”

Charean Williams, Hall of Fame reporter who covers the Dallas Cowboys for Pro Football Talk.com

 

The Last Word

“I totally understand what the refs are doing, the NFL, the bind they are in for player safety.  . . . It’s so hard to judge what’s a penalty .  . . . I wonder how long the league is going to last, honestly.”

Brian Orakpo, Tennessee Titans linebacker