Extra rest, weight gain key to Erik Karlsson's offseason

Erik Karlsson returned to Ottawa with some extra pounds under his belt and a few loads off his mind.

The Senators defenseman, who's coming off his second Norris Trophy win in four years, made an intentional effort to both gain weight and rest up over the summer in preparation for a new season.

Karlsson told Ken Warren of the Ottawa Citizen that he's close to 200 pounds - up from 180-185 at the end of last season - and feels better than he has at this point in previous summers.

Warren notes the Senators encouraged Karlsson to put on weight, seeing as he plays huge minutes (averaging the third-highest ice time among all players last season) and thus typically loses weight as the season wears on. The added bulk could also serve him well in the corners and in front of the net.

Karlsson added he made an intentional decision to afford himself the luxury of rest this summer.

"I took a little bit more downtime this summer than in previous years, for various reasons," he said. "I feel like it's been two long seasons in a row and the body takes the heat sometimes for playing a lot of minutes."

The rest, he said, has helped further heal the serious Achilles injury he suffered in February 2013.

"I feel better from the injury ... I feel like I can jump better. My explosiveness is coming back to what it used to be. The rest has helped that."

Karlsson led all defensemen with 66 points this past season. If he's feeling better entering 2015-16, that should certainly scare the opposition.