Fair assessment

10 comments
  1. Yes he’s flawed but Sweden is a team that lacks offensive punch right now. They’d be insane to not take him. Who are they going to play? Some non NHL quality 25 year old playing for Jokerit or Frolunda?

    Also this dude is well under .500 as an international coach so frankly, what does he even know about building a good team for that completion? He clearly didn’t have the skill to be part of that process the last go around he represented them as a coach

  2. The EK scapegoating is getting old. Yes, he’s not played up to his contract. His numbers are better than every other D on the team. He played in the world championship earlier in the tear and led the team to a brronze medal. He was also named defenseman of the tournament. Garpenlov was a mediocre NHL player and wouldn’t deserve playing on team sweden in his prime.

  3. I think a lot of the issues with him on the Pens is a lack of caring. For me, it’s glaring on his interviews that he just isn’t invested on the team (which is the feeling I get from the org too, considering the reports they aren’t thrilled with him).

    With Sweden, that’s a nonissue (or it shouldn’t be anyway). He will play with much more effort when dressed for the national team firstly because they have a much higher chance of winning anything than the Pens currently have and secondly because most people just care more when they are representing the people they have a stronger sense of community with.

  4. Maybe this national coach ragging on him with light a fire under him and he’ll produce for the Pens a bit or play a bit tighter on D. Clearly whatever our coaches are saying isn’t affecting him. Missing the chance to represent your country due to sloppy play and lack of effort would be a real crappy feeling.

  5. We all know EK is a very good hockey player, there is no argument there. But if you watch him play for the pens, just look at the way he plays, he does not give a fuck. Whether thats because hes playing for the pens, or any team he’d be on, he just looks like he’s there to play a position, do the bare minimum, and collect a pay cheque.

  6. Are we really at the stage where we think Karlsson won’t go absolutely beast mode in a national tournament, representing his country? The entirety of the Pittsburgh Penguins suck right now. It isn’t squarely Karlsson’s fault that we’re in this position – even if he’s floundering the most. 

    I’m glad this guy said this though and that TSN bit on it. Probably easy to get up in the morning knowing some nobody fellow countrymen is trying to talk smack while fully knowing you punched your ticket to the hall of fame a while ago. 

  7. I’ll never understand the constant trashing of Karlsson. He was not brought in to be a shutdown defenseman. If he’s not producing offensively, it’s fair to knock him. But i can’t understand when he misplays a 2:1, the whole sub blows him up. Nobody ever blames the guy that created the 2:1 or the keeper that gave up the goal. At least he was back, even if he didn’t stop the goal.

    He definitely seems a bit checked out in interviews. Perhaps it’s the same annoying questions from these so-called sports writers. The Pens know they’re coming up short and they clearly don’t have an answer. Karlsson on the second pairing is frequently matched up with a gutted L2. I wouldn’t be overly delighted, either. Tanger does get lined up with the Sid/Geno line a lot more often.

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