Erik Karlsson Report Card: Disappointment and What Comes Next
Erik Karlsson sparkled at the Four Nations Face-Off tournament for Team Sweden in February. He was up on the rush and back on defense. He was engaged in all phases of the game and rekindled memories of just how good he can be.
Karlsson was more often anything but that dazzling defender for the Pittsburgh Penguins for the duration of the regular season. The defenseman had a slow start because of an injury suffered during the captain’s practices before the start of training camp. He missed all of camp and the preseason and was slowed when he returned for the start of the regular season.
Friction
There was the little public kerfuffle when he said he was “playing great” in October, when even he knew that he was struggling. There were the loose gaps and overtly soft defensive zone coverages that sandwiched turnovers and bad pinches.
Was it the Penguins’ system and scheme devised by former coach Mike Sullivan that limited Karlsson? Sullivan publicly implored Karlsson to take his game to the next level, but to do so smartly. He seemed to have a green light that he didn’t fully embrace.
It was anything but a banner season for Karlsson, even as he put up offensive totals that would satisfy most defensemen. Karlsson had 11 goals and 42 assists in 82 games, though the output still pales in comparison to the explosive game he flashed at the Four Nations.
When PHN inquired if the Swedish system allowed him to break free or if it was simply the opportunity of playing on the big stage with great players, his reply was simple yet telling: “A bit of both.”
But it was the minus-24 despite the healthy point total at even strength that is glaring. Sure, the hockey nerds will cringe at using the generality of a plus/minus stat to make a point, but the advanced numbers are no better.
The eye tests were even worse.
Karlsson 2024-25 Grade: D
There was a solid month-plus in which Karlsson looked like the difference-making defenseman that general manager Kyle Dubas envisioned when he flopped his cards on the table Aug. 6, 2023, to close the summer of teetering trade negotiations.
From mid-November through the holiday break in late December, Karlsson flashed his very best. He was on the puck in the defensive zone and careful with it in the offensive zone. He used his unique hip-turn technique near the net to steer would-be net-crashers away from the cage.
Interestingly, a large part of his surge coincided with pointed criticism from his legendary former Team Sweden coach, Johan Garpenlov, who pointedly said Karlsson shouldn’t be on Team Sweden because of his defensive shortcomings.
Read More: Former Swedish National Coach Slams Erik Karlsson
Karlsson had 21 points (2-19-21) in his next 24 games through early January. Not coincidentally, the Penguins surged back into playoff contention, overcoming a bumbling start.
And as quickly as Karlsson arrived, he left, just like the rest of the team. The Penguins’ pulse that was strong again became barely a blip as the team won only four games in January (4-7-3), and four games in February (4-4-3).
That was all it took to erase their playoff hopes. Eight wins in two months.
From Jan. 11 through the final game of the month on Jan. 29, Karlsson had two assists in 10 games, and the Penguins were just 3-7-0.
The trend was and is painfully obvious: As Karlsson goes, so go the Penguins.
However, his disengaged play and strident opinions even drew a rebuke from Dubas following the season.
“My view would be that we expect him to be one of the people who pulls us from where we’re at and into contention,” Dubas said. “I had a long meeting with Erik on Friday. My push to him would be that his actions have to match his ambitions. That’s in consistency, preparation, and training, like every other player on the team.”
Karlsson arrived as the Penguins’ new potstir, the piece of the puzzle that would re-ignite the flagging hopes of an aging team. The high-flying defenseman has never been a consistently great defender, but his offensive prowess earned him a third Norris Trophy in 2023.
Dubas imagined an offensive powerhouse, a juggernaut on the power play, and enough offense to resurrect the Penguins’ Stanley Cup hopes.
Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and then Karlsson. A collection of Hall of Famers would surely rise to the top.
But they didn’t. Crosby alone has carried the crumbling team, which is now in full transition mode.
Karlsson, too, envisioned winning his first Stanley Cup, or at least getting back into contention for the first time in a handful of years. He had control of any trade destinations, and his primary condition was that he wanted to win.
Now, as he approaches 35 years old, the Penguins have missed the playoffs in each of his two seasons, first failing to crack 90 points, then racing just to reach 80.
Bluntly, Karlsson’s disengaged play has burned much of his trade value. His $10 million salary cap hit for two more seasons probably torches the rest. That desire to win may very well need to be refocused first on helping the Penguins’ turnaround because there is no line of suitors, as there were in 2023.
Just as it was this season, if there is to be any Penguins’ success during the turnover of veterans to younger players next season, it may again be determined by Karlsson’s performance. Until the relationship ends, it seems as Karlsson goes, so go the Penguins.
Categorized:Penguins Penguins Analysis
Some of our “harsh” comments seemingly get blocked, but this garbage makes it through???
I think Erik Karlsson’s lack of commitment to team defense has spilled over to the rest of the defense. The reason Kyle Dubas was so vocal in his exit meeting with Erik Karlsson is because the latter holds the teams future in his hands. Kyle Dubas put himself and the team in this position by making a hail mary trade with a lot of risk. So far this trade has completely blown up in his face.
I will keep saying this, it was worth the chance for what he gave up. He didn’t trade any future stars or can’t miss draft picks. The biggest piece that SJ got was Granlund. He is good, but not a game changer. The trade was and still is the right move on paper.
That said, it unfortunately didn’t work out for Karlsson or the Penguins. Definitely time for a split, which will only benefit both parties.
Let’s see how Sam Dickenson, the first round pick for Granlund that San Jose got, the 2nd round pick that goes to Montreak this year(Detroit gave up a 4th rounder to get him), and two more years of $10,000,000 cap space works out.
It was never a good deal.
Those draft picks were never property of the penguins. Only talking about the original trade here. So, you are saying that the penguins would have been better keeping Granlund, Petry, Rutta, etc. Instead of getting a reigning Norris Trophy winner. Ok
I find it remarkable that the GPR Fan Club still has perpetual meetings on this site.
Granlund, Petry and Rutta and their contracts were albatrosses on Dubas’s neck left there by the Hextall/Burke conglomerate.
Dubas getting Karlsson for Hickory, Dickory, Dock was a Mozart masterpiece.
Indeed, they were okay players, but nothing compared to Karlsson. Even the underachieving version of Karlsson has better value to any team vs those players traded away and into obscurity. The lone exception being Granlund, who also has decent talent, but was completely invisible for Pittsburgh.
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It is so funny that you are defending the indefensible. Just like Kyle Dubas, you are enamoured with the name Erik Karlsson and won’t admit that you and a lot of other people got this trade wrong.
It is okay to be wrong. I am wrong all the time and am happy to admit it.
However, in this case I got it right. Let’s see how this plays out when we try and trade EK.
I’m pretty sure that i said that, unfortunately, the trade did not work for either side. It was worth a shot with what Dubas gave up. Sometimes, as a manager, you have to take a chance in order to make your team better. That is what he did. if you need to be right, sure, okay, you are “right” that keeping Granlund, Petry, and Rutta would have made the penguins better. You are never wrong if you believe it to be true. I suppose that, in the future, Dubas should learn from you and not go after any top scorers… Read more »
In re: Unrequited love. Apparently there are those who must have a closet full of Granlund, Petry & Rutta jerseys which they may be having second thoughts about. You know who you are. The local Good Will bin is likely available if closet space is an issue. There are 31 GMs other than Dubas in the NHL. I wonder if there is one of them who would have chosen to hold onto the 3 Hall of Famers Dubas disposed of in exchange for EK (the trade involved others but that was the essence) even in hindsight? Is he still employed?… Read more »
Robert,
To clarify, I’m with you on the ex post facto perfect hindsight Karlsson debate. You got my + (maybe twice as I have a shaky trigger finger).
And you have plusses from me. Well played, good sir, well played.
😂 it’s truly mind boggling.
Totally agree. I personally did not think he was worth it, but we hardly gave up anything to acquire him. I played competitive sports with a guy similar to his personality. Had all the natural Ability to be a star but he showed up 50% of the time. This has a disastrous effect on the locker room. Some guys giving 100% in games and watching in EK 65, tiptoeing through the tulips. It is mind-boggling, as well as backbreaking!
At least Sullivan held him accountable. *eyeroll*
I was never a Karlsson fan, but liked the trade. We got the best player in the deal and got rid of 3 average players on expensive contracts. It has worked out, that happens. Seems to happen allot more here than other places, but that’s ok. This transaction isn’t done because there is a good chance he gets moved before his contract is up. This trade tree is still growing limbs.
Same, 100% agree.
He is a mystery. A new HC, one that fits the bill – a bench boss that’ll command the respect of the veteran stars and not only be comfortable going thru the growing pains of the younger players, but also aid in their development is the primary objective. I am intrigued by a new HC implementing a fresh philosophy/system to reinvigorate the team. May be able to get EK65 closer to triple digit points and lessen the defensive gaffes. In today’s NHL you need offense from the back end, but you still need players’ to make good on ice decisions… Read more »
Dan, your Karlsson analysis is missing hyperbole, drama, superficial overreaction and shallow thinking. You even fail to comment on his height and weight as well as vague comments about his motivations.
Thus, your Billy Madison grade is an unfortunate A+ and your analysis should be given no consideration.
Nice
I like the backhand shot
Karlsson sucks…get rid of him at any cost…
Can we have a go-fund-me page to have someone track him down and eliminate the problem?
We seem to forget that we didn’t just pick up Karlsson’s cap hit, but the cap hit of the players brought in to fill the holes left behind.
Cap space hasn’t been an issue at all the past few seasons.
Arguably it’s a shame that Karlsson didn’t take up more than $10M in cap space. Otherwise, Dubas couldn’t have afforded Graves 6 year bonanza!?
Talk about a missed opportunity!