Ottawa GM Bryan Murray has started preliminary contract talks with Erik Karlsson's agent, Craig Oster, on a new deal for the potential restricted free agent defender. The two sides are expected to talk again in Las Vegas next week when the NHL gathers for their annual awards ceremony.

GM Bryan Murray said he plans to talk with Erik Karlsson's agent, Craig Oster, and have an offer on the table next week. Murray said there have been informal talks between the two sides, but now it's time to get down to business with the pending restricted free agent. It is believed that Karlsson will be looking for a contract like the eight-year, $56 million deal that Drew Doughty was given by the Los Angeles Kings in September. "We haven't gone there (as far as money is concerned)," said Murray. "I have an idea, looking at comparables and somewhat comparables. He's a difficult player that way." Karlsson broke out offensively in 2011-12 with 78 points in 81 games to lead all NHL defensemen in scoring.

Erik Karlsson thinks he needs to work on his defensive game. Karlsson had 78 points in 81 games in 2011-12, so he's not going to get much better offensively, but he thinks he still has room to improve as a player. "My main priority has always been to be more of an all-around player," said Karlsson. "I want to play in situations where the game is on the line and I want to be able to play both defensively and offensively. My defensive game is something I need to improve on to be an elite player and it's something I'm going to have to keep working on in every game and every day." Karlsson is scheduled to become a restricted free agent this summer and will probably end up getting over $6 million annually.

With the Erik Karlsson scheduled to become a restricted free agent this summer, Senators owner Eugene Melnyk warned that his team can't go "toe-to-toe" with the big markets. In other words, Karlsson will have to be "reasonable" with his contract demands. The question is, what's reasonable for a 21-year-old defenseman that is coming off a 78-point season? The Senators and Karlsson should be able to come to an agreement, but Karlsson will probably come with a cap hit in excess of $6 million next season.

Erik Karlsson has been nominated for the Norris Trophy. His 78 points represented the most by an NHL defenseman since Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom recorded 80 in 2005-06. Karlsson led all blueliners in goals (19), assists (59) and points. He also vastly improved his plus/minus rating to a plus-16 after he ended up with a minus-30 the year before. His play has made him the most valuable fantasy defenseman going into next season, but it may not secure him the Norris. Karlsson's play is reminiscent to that of Washington's Mike Green in 2008-09 when he led all rearguards with 31 goals and 73 points and he came up short to Boston's Zdeno Chara for the award. Don't be surprised if the same thing happens this time around as well.

Erik Karlsson hasn't found much room to operate offensively during Ottawa's first-round playoff series against the New York Rangers. He has registered just one goal on 31 shots over six contests going into Game 7 on Thursday night. "I want to produce more and do more stuff. Sometimes you're going to have to do something else to help the team win," Karlsson said. "If that's throwing hits, blocking shots or playing good defensively, you gotta do what you have to do to win." Karlsson led all NHL blueliners with 78 points in 81 games during the regular season.

Erik Karlsson had five shots on net as the Ottawa Senators came up short in Game 3 of their first-round series with the New York Rangers, losing 1-0 on Monday night. Karlsson has been an obvious target of the Rangers' gameplan this series, but the young defenseman continues to get chances, regardless. He played 24:12 on Monday. Jason Spezza finished the game with six penalty minutes, and he also had three shots on net. Replacing the concussed Daniel Alfredsson, Bobby Butler played 14:09 and had five shots.

Erik Karlsson played much better in Game 2 against the New York Rangers by moving his feet more and he'll be looking for more of the same in Game 3 on Monday night. The NHL's leading scorer among blueliners during the regular season was limited to three shots, no points and a minus-1 rating in last Thursday's loss to the Rangers, but he amassed 10 shots and scored his second career playoff goal in Saturday's overtime victory.

Senators general manager Bryan Murray wants the team to free up some space for Erik Karlsson, Ottawa's Norris Trophy candidate and offensive trigger who was held off the scoresheet and targeted physically by the New York Rangers in Game 1 of the opening playoff series. "He has got to get to the puck first and move it quickly," Murray said. If the Senators can spend more time in the Rangers' zone, they are going to try to get more shots through to goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. The Rangers love to block shots, ranking among the league leaders in the department, so look for the Senators to try to delay occasionally and sneak a pass across ice at the last second. Karlsson did not practice Friday, probably to avoid a bunch of questions as much as anything. If the Senators are going to get back in this series, they need No. 65 to make the kind of impact he had all season. Goalie Craig Anderson would like to see Ottawa's defensemen and forwards try to slow up the Rangers' forecheckers "and keep them from making big hits" on Karlsson. "It may take him a few shifts to get his rhythm," Anderson said, "but he's our best player. When he's going, things go well for us."

Erik Karlsson registered an assist in Thursday's contest. Karlsson has 78 points in 80 games and now leads all blueliners by 25 points. He's still two points shy of the all-time record for the most points in a single season by a Swedish defenseman. It was set by Nicklas Lidstrom in 2005-06.