Direct quotes from the National Post article, Ottawa Sun and from TSN webcast with Dorion on the reasoing behind the Karlsson trade.
https://nationalpost.com/...d7-4de9-a2bd-01e1abc49c41
"Pierre Dorion indicated the Senators made their former captain a "legit" long-term offer on July 1 and essentially got no response from Karlsson’s camp.
Senators offered Karlsson an eight-year, $88 million deal and he didn’t show any inclination to sign the deal and that’s a big reason why he was dealt to the San Jose Sharks Thursday in a deal that included players, prospects and picks.
I’ve done a lot of contract negotiations. When there’s so little talk, when you’re trying to negotiate with a player, you know you’re not going to get a contract done.
So we felt it was the right thing to do after we offered him, not a hometown discount contract."