Matt Carkner on Zenon Konopka

Matt Carkner is ready to welcome Zenon Konopka with open fists.

While the Senators defenceman has never dropped the gloves with his new teammate, it wasn’t for a lack of trying.

“I’ve chased him around for 10 years,” said Carkner with a laugh Tuesday. “We played junior against each other: I was with the Petes and he was with the 67’s and we used to go at it. He gets under your skin. I was in the box a lot because of him because I was chasing him around and I’d get distracted by him.”