Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson (upper body) has declared he's ready to play in Wednesday's season opener against the Rangers. Karlsson has battled an upper-body injury throughout training camp and preseason, but he's set to jump straight into action on Wednesday. The three-time Norris Trophy winner will skate with Marcus Pettersson in even-strength situations and is set for first power-play duty. The Rangers have been Karlsson's kryptonite through the years, limiting him to 16 points (three goals, 13 assists) in 35 games. He has amassed a minus-14 rating against the Rangers and went scoreless in three games in the matchup last season.
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson (upper body) will be "ready to go" for the season opener on Wednesday evening, according to Rob Rossi of The Athletic. Karlsson was battling an upper-body injury and remained sidelined through the majority of training camp. The 34-year-old returned to practice earlier on Saturday and was able to participate in full. This is an excellent sign for the three-time Norris Trophy winner, as he should rejoin the starting lineup just in time for the season opener on Wednesday when the Penguins host the New York Rangers. In his first season in the Steel City, Karlsson only found the back of the net 11 times and tallied 45 assists, a stark contrast to the 101 points he tallied the year prior. However, fantasy managers should expect the 34-year-old to produce elite offensive numbers from the blue line this season despite his underwhelming Pittsburgh debut.
Erik Karlsson Expected To Be Available For Start Of Season
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson (upper body) remains day-to-day but is expected to be available for the start of the 2024-25 campaign. Speaking about Karlsson and his status, Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan said, "Our team is working with him here, and I am confident that they will be successful." Karlsson hasn't managed to get any work in with his teammates in training camp, so he could be quite rusty when the regular season begins for Pittsburgh on Oct. 9 versus the New York Rangers. The three-time Norris Trophy winner had a disappointing campaign in 2023-24, but he could bounce back in a big way this season. Karlsson will be reunited with David Quinn, who squeezed out 101 points from him as the San Jose Sharks head coach in 2022-23.
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson (upper body) will not be available for the start of training camp. The Penguins have announced that their star blue-liner is dealing with an upper-body injury and is considered day-to-day. Karlsson might miss some preseason action because of the injury, but it looks like it's not a very serious issue and doesn't threaten his status for the team's regular-season opener on Oct. 9 versus the Rangers. After winning the Norris Trophy as the league's best defenseman for the third time in 2023, Karlsson took a big fall last season. He went from a 101-point scorer to a 56-point guy in his debut campaign with the Penguins. He'll be looking to produce a bounce-back year in 2024-25.
Erik Karlsson Records Three Assists In Saturday's Win
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson notched three assists in Saturday's entertaining 5-4 victory over Tampa Bay. He helped Sidney Crosby on his 40th goal of the campaign early in the contest, set up Evgeni Malkin at the start of the second period, and wrapped up his hat trick of assists when Michael Bunting scored the game-winning goal at the 14:32 mark in the third frame. Karlsson jumped on 51 points with the effort, having dished out 42 assists in 77 games. The former Norris Trophy winner was off his game in March but has started strongly this month. Karlsson will have a chance to get to four games with his point streak in Monday's matchup versus Toronto.
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson (illness) will play Saturday versus Vegas. There was a question mark hanging over Karlsson after he missed practice on Friday, but the seven-time All-Star will remain in the lineup on Saturday. Karlsson has played in every game since the start of last season, registering 31 points (seven goals, 24 assists) in 42 contests with the Penguins in 2023-24. After starting 2024 in hot form, Karlsson can extend his point streak to eight games on Saturday night.
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson missed Friday's practice due to an illness, leaving his status for Saturday's meeting with the Golden Knights questionable. Karlsson has yet to miss any games during his first year in Pittsburgh. The three-time Norris Trophy winner has disappointed fantasy managers for most of the season, but Karlsson has been on a hot streak lately, going on a seven-game point streak to start off the new year. He has notched 31 points (seven goals, 24 assists) in total in 42 games as a Penguin. Kris Letang would have a chance to move back to the top power-play unit without Karlsson, with Ryan Shea likely grabbing the open spot in the lineup.
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson finished with two assists in Wednesday's 4-3 shootout victory against the Canadiens. Karlsson contributed with helpers on power-play goals by Penguins forwards Jake Guentzel and Sidney Crosby in the second period, while ending a four-game point drought with his two assist performance. Karlsson has totaled six goals and 21 points through 28 games to rank in the middle rounds of standard fantasy formats.
Erik Karlsson Scores Game-Winner Against Maple Leafs
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson scored the game-winning goal in the final minute of the second period of Saturday's 3-2 victory against the Maple Leafs. Karlsson gave the Penguins their third goal of the night with a slap-shot from the blue line that got past Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll. Karlsson's goal was his sixth of the season, along with 12 assists and a total of 18 points through 20 games. The 33-year-old ranks third on the team in points with center Evgeni Malkin, and the defenseman is one of the most valuable players at his position after a career-high 101 points with the Sharks in the 2022-23 season.
Erik Karlsson Has Three-Point Night Against Detroit
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson was at his best in Wednesday's matchup against the Red Wings, amassing three points in a 6-3 defeat. He had his first goal as a Penguin and registered two assists. The Penguins blew an early lead in spectacular style, but Karlsson had a fine outing, going plus-two in 27:56 of ice time and logging four shots on goal with one hit. He now boasts four points (one goal, three assists) in four games with 12 shots on goal. It has taken some time for Karlsson to get going in 2023-24, but hopefully, Wednesday night was a sign of things to come.
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang has given his sign of approval to the addition of Erik Karlsson. "I love the addition, to be honest," Letang told Matt Vensel of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "Trust me, every coach in the NHL wants an Erik Karlsson. Every coach in the NHL wants Crosby and Malkin on the power play. Now imagine if you have all of them." It remains to be seen how the power-play situation works out in Pittsburgh, now that there are two world-class right-shot defensemen on the team. Letang has been quarterbacking the top unit for years and notched most (21) of his points (41) with the man advantage in 2022-23.
Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson finally has a new home after the San Jose Sharks traded him to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday. The two teams agreed on a deal that also involved the Montreal Canadiens. In the trade, the Penguins departed with defensemen Jan Rutta and Jeff Petry, forwards Mikael Granlund and Nathan Legare, and goaltender Casey DeSmith, while also giving away a couple of draft picks. Karlsson was desperate to move on from a struggling Sharks team and had requested a trade. He's the first reigning Norris Trophy winner since Doug Harvey in 1961 to get traded. Karlsson was spectacular last season, posting a career-high 101 points (25 goals, 76 assists), and he now finds himself in a great position to enjoy another productive campaign, while also having a chance to compete for the Stanley Cup.
San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson has been in contact with several teams regarding a potential offseason move. According to TSN's Chris Johnson, the reigning Norris Trophy winner has spoken with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins, Seattle Kraken, and Carolina Hurricanes, plus others. "I just want the best chance to get to the best team," Karlsson told Adam Johansson of Expressen in an interview in Sweden. Karlsson would be a great addition to any team, but trading for him sounds easier said than done. The 33-year-old is on a massive contract that has a $11.5 million cap hit and all teams mentioned as his potential suitors will need to get creative to open up enough cap space to fit Karlsson.
San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson has collected the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman for a third time. He is the ninth player in league history to win the award at least three times and the only active player to do so. The 33-year-old enjoyed an incredible year with a career-high 101 points across 82 games. Having previously won the Norris Trophy twice as a member of the Ottawa Senators, Karlsson is the fourth rearguard in history to win it with different teams. He could very well become the first one to do it with three teams, with the Swedish star set to leave San Jose this summer.
Sharks Working With Erik Karlsson To Find A Suitable Trade
San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson is set to take his talents elsewhere this offseason. According to TSN's Pierre LeBrun, Karlsson and the Sharks are working together to find a trade that would suit both parties. Following a sublime 101-point season, Karlsson is set to take home the Norris Trophy for the third time, but he wants to play for a contender while San Jose is looking to focus on a rebuild. The 33-year-old has just hit the midway point of an eight-year, $92 million deal signed with the Sharks back in 2019 that has an $11.5 million cap hit. It's a tough contract to move, but LeBrun added that a few teams have been "kicking tires" to get a deal done.
San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson scored twice in Monday's 6-2 loss to Winnipeg to become the sixth blue-liner in NHL history with a 100-point season. He's the first rearguard to reach the plateau since Brian Leetch in 1991-92. Karlsson got there with 80 games, posting 25 goals and 75 assists. The 32-year-old is the fourth defenseman in history with 30-plus multi-point games in a season. Karlsson has had a spectacular run in 2022-23 and it's truly a mystery how his team is only 22-42-16. However, despite the team's awful campaign, Karlsson should win the Norris Trophy as the best defenseman in the league for the third time in his career.
San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson registered four assists in Saturday's big 7-2 road victory over the Coyotes. Three of the helpers came on the power play as Karlsson recorded his fifth four-point game of the season. Karlsson has been very productive throughout the campaign, and with six games to go, he now needs to add just five more points to become only the sixth defenseman in NHL history with a 100-point campaign. In 76 outings, Karlsson has produced 22 goals and 73 assists, which are both his career-high marks.
San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson had two helpers in Saturday's 5-3 loss to Calgary, setting a new franchise record for most assists by a blue-liner in a single season. He reached 68 assists for the campaign by setting up Logan Couture and Nico Sturm. Karlsson has taken down all kinds of records during an incredibly productive campaign that has seen him collect 90 points in 73 games. Only nine rearguards in league history have managed more in a season.
San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson reached a special achievement in Saturday's 8-3 loss to Washington, becoming the first active defenseman to record two 80-point seasons. He got there by dishing out two assists, one on the power play. Karlsson is also now the 10th blue-liner in NHL history to hit the 60-assist mark in 63 or fewer games in a season. It's been a monster year for the Swedish rearguard, and it's incredible to think that he is dominating the scoring charts among defensemen despite playing on one of the worst teams in the league. Winnipeg's Josh Morrissey is placed second behind him with 66 points.
Erik Karlsson Continues Scoring Surge With Three Points
San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson produced a game-winning performance against Washington on Sunday, leading his crew to a 4-1 victory with a goal and two assists. He became only the fifth player in franchise history to record at least eight three-point efforts in a single season. Three of them have come in less than a month, and Karlsson finds himself on a four-game scoring streak with a total of nine points amassed during the stretch. It's been a special season by a special player, as Karlsson is competing for a top-three finish on the league's scoring charts, having tallied 73 points in 54 games. Only Tampa Bay's Nikita Kucherov (57) has delivered more assists than Karlsson (55).
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