PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Then finally came the long-awaited move for Erik Karlsson.
The San Jose Sharks have been traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL.
Now the Swedish expert Per Svartvadet gives his clear verdict on the attention-grabbing move.
It was a long wait for the Swedish NHL star Erik Karlsson this summer. After a really great season in North America, he clearly wanted to leave the San Jose Sharks after five seasons.
Karlsson’s move
The 33-year-old was also in a very good negotiating position after being named the world’s best hockey defenseman by winning the coveted Norris Trophy this past NHL season. Karlsson produced an impressive 101 points in 82 games and for the first time in his career went over the magical mark of triple-digit scoring.
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The big question was just which club it would be for the offensive back who is noted for a total of 761 points in 920 games in his NHL career. This weekend it was announced that Erik Karlsson was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in a huge move.
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The expert’s verdict
Now gives Radiosport’s hockey expert Per Svartvadet his clear verdict on the move Sharks to Penguins – and puts into words what everyone is really thinking.
– Yes, it wasn’t a scandal so direct that he would be beaten. Pittsburgh has also been the hottest and wanted him the most. They go one last time to maybe win the Stanley Cup with (Jevgenij) Malkin and above all Sidney Crosby, so I think Erik Karlsson will fit perfectly in Pittsburgh, he says to the radio channel.
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Pittsburgh has won the Stanley Cup three times in the 2000s, but the most recent trophy came in 2017, and the entire city is cheering for new success. With a new addition like Karlsson, expectations grow even higher.
– They can definitely win everything. This was a great trade that Pittsburgh’s new general manager Kyle Dubas made, putting a deal like that right away shows that they are serious and that they will go for it this season, says Svartvadet in his analysis.
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The Swedish expert also sees that Erik Karlsson will benefit from being surrounded by so many other superstars in the team.
– He won’t be watched as much as he was in San Jose, there he would control and set up pretty much everything. Now he gets some relief and they have a back in (Kris) Letang who is also very good offensively, especially in the power play Pittsburgh will be dominant this season, says Svartvadet.
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