Erik Karlsson will soon be well acquainted with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals rivalry.

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals are not far removed from having one of the most intense rivalries in the NHL.

While the heat may have cooled between the Penguins and Capitals, there are still plenty of chapters to be written in their battles.

Erik Karlsson is a new face to the rivalry and should leave a pretty big impression right away.

One of the Penguins’ newest arrivals may be supporting the black and gold side, he has a friend or two on the opposite side of the line.

Karlsson and longtime Capitals’ center Nicklas Backstrom are both natives of Sweden and have suited up as teammates on the international stage on multiple occasions.

Backstrom was asked about his fellow countryman joining the Penguins by hockeynews.se, and the veteran Capital was mostly pleasant towards his new rival.

“Fun for him, of course,” Backstrom said. “I'm looking forward to meeting Erik Karlsson more. Then I'll chop him on the calves.”

Backstrom and Captials teammate Tom Wilson both look to welcome Karlsson to the rivalry with a smile and jab.

These comments won’t add to the hatred between the teams, but it’s noticeable that rivals are keeping close eyes on each other.

Backstrom noted that he understood that Karlsson wanted to move on from the San Jose Sharks and that Pittsburgh should be a good destination for him.

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