For those waiting for the shoe to drop on Erik Karlsson signing an extension in San Jose any time soon, you can forget about that for a while.



Oh, it’s not because Karlsson wouldn’t be interested in doing so, although I couldn’t tell you either way at this point. It’s more to do with a barely known rule in the collective bargaining agreement preventing him from maxing out anytime soon.



Karlsson, as per the CBA, cannot sign an eight-year extension with the Sharks until after the Feb. 25 trade deadline.



Now, if he doesn’t care about the eighth year and was willing to sign for any number of years below that, he can sign anytime. But one has to assume that if Karlsson decides to stay put in San Jose, it will be for the eight-year, maximum deal.



This is on page 285 of your friendly neighborhood NHL-NHLPA CBA:



“An SPC with a term of greater than seven (7) years, provided, however, that a Club may sign a Player...