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If Karlsson isn’t traded by the time training camp opens Sept. 13 at the Canadian Tire Centre, then the expectation is he will report to honour his deal. He has been skating at the Bell Sensplex in Kanata off and on since late June to prepare for the start of next season — wherever that might take place.

If general manager Pierre Dorion is going to make this trade, it has to be right and he’s not going to give away a franchise player. The Senators are not going to get caught up in false deadlines. The reality is the organization will make this move when the timing and, more importantly, the return is right.

It’s believed five to six teams, including the Vegas Golden Knights, Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars and San Jose Sharks, remain interested in Karlsson. It’s not known what the asking price is, but it would stand to reason that it’s likely hefty and includes multiple pieces.

Camp will be pointed to as another “Karlson deadline” because many will think the Senators won’t want this hanging over them going into the pre-season, but last year’s trade deadline, the NHL draft in June and the start of free agency have already come and gone without Dorion making a move.

If a trade involving Karlsson doesn’t happen when camp opens, then the next date everybody will look at is the club’s season opener against the Chicago Blackhawks at home on Oct. 4.

There’s no pressure here to do anything quickly.

Right now, it’s difficult to get teams fully engaged. Everybody is still trying to enjoy the final few weeks of the summer before rookie camps start in early September.