Erik Karlsson is back.
Last night he was – as expected – nominated for the award as the year’s best back.
And he then sent a neat greeting to all those who doubted.
– Everyone thought I was finished as an artist, he says.
Erik Karlsson belonged to the absolute top of the backs in the world for many years, when he carried his Ottawa Senators on his shoulders. Once he changed teams, it became the San Jose Sharks, where he went to win the Stanley Cup, and to become one of the league’s highest paid players.
Incomparable season
But the move – at least initially – did not turn out well. The Sharks failed in their venture, and instead began a rebuild. Erik Karlsson has had problems with injuries and has been unrecognizable at all. The Swede has occasionally been sawed and mocked. But now he has proven to the doubters that he cannot be counted out.
It was true that there were no playoffs for Karlsson or the Sharks, but for the Swede it was a historically good season, when he reached the dream limit of 100 points. He became the first running back to reach triple figures since Brian Leetch did it 31(!) years ago, and he won the running backs scoring outright. And last night came another reward for the fantastic effort.
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Neat pass
It may not come as a big deal, but last night it was still confirmed that Karlsson is one of three nominees for the prestigious Norris Trophy, the award for the year’s defenseman in the NHL. There he goes up against Adam Fox, New York Rangers, and Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche.
– Very fun, of course. Hope I win and be back where I should be, but everyone who is nominated deserves it, so I’m just happy to be in the top 3 right now, says Erik Karlsson to Expressen.
Erik Karlsson also takes the opportunity to send a pass to all critics – and everyone who counted him out during the initial years in the Sharks. He is back.
– It would of course mean a lot because everyone thought I was finished as an artist, haha, says Karlsson.
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