Erik Karlsson Is Already Familiar With Penguins
Erik Karlsson should have an easy transition when getting acquainted with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
It’s never easy for a player when they get traded in the NHL; often times guys are entering a room they don’t know many faces in.
That shouldn’t be an issue for Erik Karlsson and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
According to Karlsson, he is already familiar with quite a few Penguins stemming from his 14-year career.
The easy assumption of who Karlsson might have pre-existing relationships with start with his fellow Sweden natives, Rickard Rakell and Marcus Pettersson.
Karlsson said he knew Rakell from some previous international camps in Sweden, but wasn’t familiar with Pettersson on a personal level.
Surely, Karlsson and Pettersson will get to know each other pretty well pretty quickly as they may be linemates to start the season.
Alex Nylander and newcomer Andreas Johnsson also have Swedish heritage in their blood.
Karlsson stated that he played with both Nylander and Johnsson’s fathers at one point or another early in his own career.
Johnsson was also briefly a teammate of Karlsson when he played 13 games with the San Jose Sharks in 2022-23.
Matt Nieto also spent a few seasons in San Jose and got close with Karlsson during that time.
Karlsson said he also had a previous connection with Lars Eller when the two played in the Swedish junior league and the SEL together with Frolunda.
Obviously Karlsson had also grew a familiarity with the Penguins’ core over the years through All-Star Games and other NHL events.
Even off of the ice, Karlsson has a familiar face to be around; a former Ottawa Senators teammates of Karlsson’s was recently hired by Kyle Dubas.
Jason Spezza was brought to Pittsburgh as assistant general manager and was the first one to greet Karlsson when he arrived.
“It’s going to be nice to not have to step into a room where you don’t really know anyone,” Karlsson said.
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