Wilson -- known for the acquisitions of forward Joe Thornton, defenseman Brent Burns, goaltender Martin Jones and forward Evander Kane in the past -- made a run at center John Tavares in free agency.
When Tavares signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 1, Wilson stayed after another player he had targeted leading up to the NHL Trade Deadline on Feb. 26.
"We kind of kept our powder dry, hoping that this type of opportunity would come to fruition," Wilson said. "And it did."
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Wilson acquired Karlsson and forward prospect Francis Perron from the Ottawa Senators on Thursday for forwards Chris Tierney and Rudolfs Balcers, defenseman Dylan DeMelo, forward prospect Joshua Norris, a conditional first-round pick in the 2019 or 2020 NHL Draft and a second-round pick in 2019.
Karlsson, 28, is in the last year of his contract. If San Jose signs him to an extension, Ottawa receives a conditional second-rounder in 2021 that would become a first-round pick if the Sharks reach the 2019 Stanley Cup Final. If Karlsson is on an Eastern Conference roster this season, Ottawa would receive a first-round pick before 2022.
In Karlsson and Burns, the Sharks have the top two offensive defensemen in hockey. Karlsson won the Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenseman in 2012 and 2015. Burns won it in 2017. Since 2011-12, when Karlsson won the Norris the first time and Burns joined the Sharks, Karlsson leads NHL defensemen with 447 points. Burns is second with 383. No one else has more than 337.
"[Karlsson and Burns] together on the power play will be pretty dynamic," Wilson said.
Yep. The Sharks shouldn't be 16th in the NHL at 20.6 percent, like they were last season.
"All I have to do is give [Burns] the puck, and, you know, usually it takes care of the rest," Karlsson said.