Karlsson to leave San Jose for New York?! Sportsnet's Luke Fox makes bold prediction on his salary!

Ever since he was traded to the San Jose Sharks, defenseman Erik Karlsson has never stated that he would re-sign in California. The trade that sent him from the Ottawa Senators to the Sharks took place in September, and for months now, Karlsson maintains that he wants to see how he and his wife Melinda adapt to their new life in San Jose before signing the dotted line.

When he returned to Ottawa at the end of November, Karlsson made some worrisome comments about his future in San Jose, which remains quite vague. The star blue liner has never hidden the fact that Ottawa will always be home to him. His wife Melinda is from the region, and the Swedish defender intends on keeping his house in the nation's capital. When asked about his future with the Sharks, as the talented blue liner will be eligible for free agency this coming summer, Karlsson had revealed he hadn't thought about his future in San Jose.

"We have a great team, everybody has treated me really well, and trying to make it as easy as possible for me.

“At the same time, I’ve been trying to stay as focused as I can on the hockey part. As for travel and lifestyle, it’s all very different and it’s something over time that’s going to get easier and easier. I’m excited with the next chapter in my life and the experience I’m going to gain from this.”

On Friday, Sportsnet's Luke Fox put together a list of nine bold predictions for 2019 and of course, the NHL insider believes Karlsson will leave San Jose. He even predicts that the veteran defender will sign with the New York Rangers, to join friends Henrik Lundqvist and Mika Zibanejad.

Fox goes a step further by stating that Karlsson will sign for less than Los Angeles Kings' Drew Doughty...

"While we’d be floored to see Wilson give up on Karlsson before the 2019 trade deadline, we’d be even more shocked if he offered the impending UFA a contract rich enough to prevent EK65 from testing the open market.

Kevin Shattenkirk never did amount to the bona fide blue-line stud New York banked on in 2017. Here’s betting Karlsson becomes the cap-clearing Rangers’ No. 1 defenceman of the future, but after a just-OK-by-his-standards platform campaign, Karl will have to settle for a lighter deal than the one agency pal Doughty ($88 million) took to remain in L.A."

NHL insider Pierre LeBrun also noted on the air of Toronto's TSN 1050 Friday that Karlsson could be tempted to sign in New York to play alongside Lundqvist. The veteran goalie, who has been patient with the rebuild, could be motivated at another Cup run if the Rangers go after forward Artemi Panarin and Karlsson during the free agency season.

"What about Erik Karlsson if he doesn’t sign in San Jose. Good pals with Henrik Lundqvist. I think that’s what I would remind Lundqvist, if I were the Rangers, that just get through the next few months here. That there is a light at the end of the tunnel."

If you thought the summer was exciting with John Tavares on the market, wait for the summer of 2019 with many names, including Karlsson, becoming coveted free agents!