Erik Karlsson stood for a historically good season in the NHL.
Now he is being rewarded – with the prestigious Victoria prize.
– I am very proud, he says.
Erik Karlsson is back in earnest. For a few years he was the best back in the world when he carried his Ottawa Senators on his shoulders. After the successful years to say the least, there was a move to San Jose, where initially things did not go as planned.
The big tribute
Despite one of the higher salaries in the NHL, Karlsson has had difficulty living up to the highest expectations. He has been mocked and sawed at times, but during the winter the revenge has been a fact. Karlsson had an absolutely sensational season, and he became the first defenseman in the NHL in 30 years to reach over 100 points in the league.
Karlsson’s 101 points in 82 games made him historic as the only Swede in NHL history to reach the magic mark. This summer, Karlsson will win the award as the world’s best defender, but now he is also being celebrated at home, in Sweden. During the morning, the news came that Karlsson was awarded the prestigious Victoria prize.
READ MORE: Henrik Lundqvist once again shows the entire hockey world his big heart after a beautiful gesture for the 14-year-old boy
“Very proud”
The Victoria Prize has been awarded annually since 1979, and is always considered one of Sweden’s finest sports prizes, and for Erik Karlsson it means a lot.
– I am of course very proud and it will be fun to come home to Sweden and receive an award. Especially this price. My father will be so happy, he says.
Erik Karlsson is not the first hockey player in history to win the award, but the first since 2016, when Henrik Lundqvist was awarded it.
– Erik Karlsson is one of the really great Swedish hockey players. His career shines brightly and his magical season last year has gone down in hockey history. Now he joins a celeb group of hockey players – Peter Forsberg, the Sedin brothers and Henrik Lundqvist – who have also won the Victoria prize, says Stephan Rimér, responsible for the Victoria Days.
The prize will be awarded during the Victoria concert on July 14.
READ MORE: The new future statement about Leo Carlsson after the great success in the hockey World Cup: “The worst that can happen”