Karlsson Takes High Road on plattners Comments,Thriving in pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH – Erik Karlsson took the high road.
On opening night, Hasso Plattner spoke for the first time too local media in a decade.
The San Jose Sharks owner was surprisingly frank when speaking about Karlsson, who GM Doug wilson acquired to much fanfare in the summer of 2018.
There’s no need to re-litigate the highs and lows of Karlsson’s tenure with the Sharks – we’ve done that plenty at San Jose Hockey Now – but Plattner was pointed in his comments about Karlsson.
“First, one [star] is not enough. Second, you know his qualities and you know his deficiencies, he was not the most, how do I say it, team-kind player,” Plattner said about Karlsson. “He was good, but he was probably very good in a very good team.”
In a one-on-one interview with SJHN in Dallas last week, Karlsson offered no comment, stressing that he still has a good relationship with his former owner.
Karlsson, instead, is focused on the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he’s enjoying a bounceback campaign.
It was an up-and-down Steel City debut for Karlsson last year,who was coming off a 2023 Norris Trophy with the San Jose Sharks.
This season, the 35-year-old has been the No. 1 defenseman for the surprising 14-8-7 Pens, putting up two goals and 21 points in 29 games, and playing solid two-way hockey.
“He’s just playing towards his strengths more consistently. He’s engaged. He’s skating, his puck play. It seems like he’s got a little extra gear in him this year than I’ve seen since he left San Jose,” San Jose Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky, who ran the defense during Karlsson’s Norris campaign, said. “Perilous player. We know what he can do. Extremely, extremely luminous hockey player. He can make things happen from the goal line out. Got to be aware when he’s on the ice.”
Karlsson spoke to SJHN about the Sharks’ improved play this season, how San Jose set him up for success in 2022-23, his good relationship with GM Mike Grier, and how he’d fit with Macklin Celebrini now.
Sheng Peng: What are your thoughts about the San Jose Sharks’ current turnaround?
Erik Karlsson: It’s nice. It’s coming along. Obviously, they’re going in the right direction, and