Report: Senators’ Karlsson will not play at World Championship

Ottawa Senators captain Erik Karlsson is going to take some time to enjoy the offseason.

Karlsson will not play for his native Sweden at the upcoming World Championship, according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun.

The 25-year-old is coming off his first 80-point season and the first by a defenseman since Nicklas Lidstrom accomplished the feat in 2006.

He paced the NHL in points by a defenseman for the third consecutive season, clearly earning some time off.

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