Erik Karlsson Takes High Road, Ends War of Words with Swedish Coach

Erik Karlsson is a different kind of defenseman, but he’s also a different breed of person. Friday, he accepted and dismissed stinging public criticism from former Swedish national coach Johan Garpenlov.

Back in November, Garpenlov made international headlines when he blasted Karlsson’s play with the Penguins and said the D-man shouldn’t be on Team Sweden.

Read More: Former Swedish National Coach Slams Erik Karlsson

“I think his shortcomings in the defensive game are too big in a short tournament like (Four Nations),” Garpenlov said on a national Swedish broadcast shortly after Karlsson had been named one of the primary team members. “Because every game will be so important, and then you can’t afford to make these bigger mistakes that, unfortunately, Erik Karlsson is now making.”

Garpenlov wasn’t entirely wrong. Karlsson struggled mightily with the Penguins after he returned from an injury suffered in unofficial practices before training camp.

Karlsson fired back in the Swedish press that Garpenlov was the reason Sweden’s national program had tanked and the facilities were substandard.

“It’s fortunate that he doesn’t have anything to say anymore. It’s thanks to him that we’re at the bottom of the rankings and have the worst locker rooms,” Karlsson told Swedish press in November.

Touche.

On Friday, Swedish media documented the pair’s warm meeting that ended in a hug in the concrete hallways of the Bell Centre in Montreal. However, Garpenlov didn’t retract his words when given the chance.

“No, but that’s not how it works. I stand by what I said, but I can also praise a player and say when he has had a good match,” Garpenlov said to the assembled Swedish press at the Four Nations Face-Off practice in Montreal. “I hope all the Swedish players here are doing well, including Erik; I want Tre Kronor to win.”

Tre Kronor translated is Three Crowns, a reference to the Swedish flag.

While many of you and I probably would have reacted much differently, perhaps needing only two words to respond, Karlsson dismissed the kerfuffle with his former national team coach, though he acknowledged they came at an awkward time when he was just coming back from his injury.

Karlsson was far more gracious than his former coach Friday. The translation is a little rough from Sport Bladen:

“I am my own biggest critic. My old friend, Garpen, who went out and sawed me off, I’ve been around long enough to (not to) buy it,” said Karlsson. “I’ve been on both sides–when things have gone better and not so well. It can swing quickly and is not something that moves my spine. I focus on what I can do and what I can’t do. You have to laugh a little.”

The Penguins D-man was brilliant in Sweden’s first game of the tournament, a 4-3 overtime loss to Canada.

Yet Garpenlov had a more dismissive or indifferent attitude about his previous comments.

“It wasn’t anything strange. I think both he and I understand what we’re doing and we can separate the professional and the private life,” Garpenlov said. “There’s a work life, and then there’s a private life.”

According to NHL Edge stats, Karlsson has thus far recorded the fastest skating speed at an impressive 23.16 mph. The Penguins defenseman also had one assist and was a plus-1 in just over 18 minutes of ice time.

“It’s always fun to meet Erik Karlsson. He’s a nice person,” Garpenlov concluded.

The marquee matchup on Saturday night in the Four Nations Face-Off is Team USA vs. Canada, but the other game will be no less heated: Sweden vs. Finland.