New Face on Defense Hopes To Contribute to Penguins Success
Erik Karlsson looks to build off of his Norris Trophy season in a new role with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Kyle Dubas had been targeting Erik Karlsson long before he became the focal point of the Pittsburgh Penguins front office.
Once Dubas was hired, he made it his mission to bring Karlsson to the Penguins and he found a way to get it done.
In his final year with the San Jose Sharks, Karlsson put up a historic season by notching 101 points as a defenseman.
A feat like that hadn’t been accomplished since Brian Leetch in 1991-92, over 30 years ago.
Karlsson rightfully took home his third Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman, but was on one of the worst teams in the NHL.
The San Jose Sharks finished 2022-23 with a 22-44-16 record and Karlsson finished with a minus-26 rating.
Now on a much better team, Karlsson isn’t necessarily looking to take home another Norris, but hopes to be a key contributor in the Penguins’ success.
“Every year is a new year,” Karlsson said. “It’s going to be a completely different year for every single individual player. I’m looking forward to figure out what I need to do to be as successful as I can for this group.”
The expectations are high for Karlsson; everyone believes he can bring a real dose of offense and superstar talent to his new squad.
The Penguins are hopeful to find their way back into the postseason and Karlsson should play a huge role in that effort.
Karlsson is excited for an opportunity to compete; with the Sharks Karlsson made the postseason one time and lost in the Western Conference Final.
Following that year, the Sharks really struggled to play competitive hockey, regualarly finishing near the bottom of the Pacific Division.
“What I’m looking forward to the most is playing meaningful games,” Karlsson said. “Win a lot of hockey games and go as far as we can.”
Karlsson is amped about a chance at the ultimate prize and the Penguins are hungrier than ever to win.
The Penguins will rely on Karlsson a lot this season to bring success, and he seems up for the challenge.
Make sure you bookmark Inside the Penguins for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.
- Subscribe to Inside the Penguins on YouTube
- Follow Inside the Penguins on Twitter: @InsidePenguins