from Bruce Garrioch at the Ottaw Citizen,

Asked by Postmedia if he would allow Karlsson to go to the Olympics — and the Senators’ star defenceman has never indicated publicly he would request permission to go — Melnyk put the hammer down right away.

“No, no, it would be no, a flat no,” Melnyk said. “I talked to (former Senators captain Daniel) Alfredsson about it and he understands the player would want to (attend), but I’m not going to risk that.”

Melnyk pointed to the 2005-06 season, when the Senators lost goaltender Dominik Hasek to a mysterious adductor injury after he was hurt while playing for the Czech Republic in the Turin Winter Olympics.

Hasek never returned to the net and the Senators lost in the second round of the playoffs to the Buffalo Sabres with Ray Emery in net.

“I had a Cup in 2006 parked for me and waiting for me,” Melnyk said. “We were arguing about whose name was going to go on the (Cup). We were there and what happens? Hasek. I’m not going to do that.

“Can you imagine if (Karlsson) goes and he gets a permanent injury? You know what I’m saying? That’s my view,” Melnyk said.

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