from Don Brennan of the Ottawa Sun,

Karlsson, aka The Silent Superstar, can have no real good reason to pull a boycott that started Jan. 1, one he temporarily lifted following the Colorado game and was scheduled to do again after the Wild affair.

In Denver, when he popped out minus his shirt and saw the TV cameras, Karlsson joked "I guess you don't want me to be naked."

I told him I was just happy to be seeing him at all.

"I've been dodging you guys a bit," Karlsson replied with a little chuckle. I said yes, then added: "And I thought we were friends?"

Replied Karlsson: "Always."

Apparently not.

I don't know for sure why we're getting stiffed by Karlsson. I do know that on New Years Eve, he tweeted something about 2013 being the worst year of his life, and that my bosses wanted me to ask him why. If it's personal, all he has to say is he wants to keep his private life private. That's cool. I wouldn't push him. I'd respect that.

more plus othe Ottawa topics...