The 2017-18 season has not been easy for Erik Karlsson.

The Ottawa Senators captain has been bombarded with questions surrounding his pending free agency and the controversial remarks from owner Eugene Melnyk ahead of the team's outdoor game. This, all wrapped around the team's disastrous play on the ice.

It's been a lot to handle and no one understands what he must be going through more than former teammate Kyle Turris.

"He's one of the best players in the world and it's been a frustrating year for him," Turris said, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston. "He's a great leader. To have the team going through what they're going through I think is tough and frustrating, and it’s a tough situation for him with all of the rumors going around about him.

"So, yeah, it’s just altogether a tough situation but he handles things well."

On Thursday, Turris returns to Ottawa for his first game since joining the Nashville Predators in a three-way trade that saw Matt Duchene sent to the Senators.

For the 28-year-old, he's excited to be back around good friends such as Karlsson, Mark Stone, and Mark Borowiecki, but by game time, he knows it will be back to business.

"Yeah, I’m buddies with them," said Turris. "I'm sure I'll be talking to [Karlsson] and [Mark Stone] and [Mark Borowiecki] and some of the guys. When you get on the ice it's a game and it's competitive and it'll be fun at the same time."

Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.