PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Erik Karlsson has had to receive harsh criticism.
Former national team captain Johan Garpenlöv wants to see him poked in Tre Kronor.
Now the current national team captain Sam Hallam is fighting back.
In February, Tre Kronor will play the star-studded 4 Nations tournament with the world’s best hockey players gathered. Swedish NHL star Erik Karlsson is already one of six selected national team players in the Tre Kronor squad.
Garpenlöv’s criticism
It was in June as the national team captain Sam Hallam announced that Karlsson as well Victor Hedman and Gustav Forsling has taken care of three of Sweden’s back spots for the tournament. But the Tre Kronor coach shouldn’t have done that at all, according to the former national team captain Johan Garpenlöv.
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He does not want to see Erik Karlsson 4 Nations at all and vents his clear criticism of the star defender.
– I had not selected Erik Karlsson in this 4 Nations squad. His shortcomings in the defensive game are too great in such a short tournament. Every match is so important and then you can’t afford to make these big mistakes like Erik Karlsson unfortunately does, Garpenlöv said in his speech.
Hallam gives answers
The harsh criticism of the Tre Kronor key player has provoked strong reactions in hockey Sweden and of course reached the current national team captain. Sam Hallam now hits back at Johan Garpenlöv and says what everyone needs to hear about “The world’s best Karlsson”.
– There will always be opinions about who is taken out or not, regardless of whether it is the 4 Nations, the hockey WC, the football EC or Melodifestivalen. It’s part of the package. I just think it’s healthy that there are different opinions about it, he says to Radiosporten.
– Then I am very sure about where I stand on the issue and that is that Erik Karlsson will have a huge importance for us. We got to know each other during the hockey World Cup last spring, where he grew into an incredibly important person for the team’s dynamics as a person but also the top qualities on the ice. If we see how that tournament ended, he scores a very important goal in the bronze match which means that we get a medal, something that Tre Kronor has struggled with for many, many years.
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Tre Kronor confederation captain Hallam absolutely does not regret his decision to take Karlsson to the upcoming national team tournament.
– I am very confident with Erik and very happy that we have the opportunity to have him in the team, says the hockey coach in the interview.
– In a team you need to have different parts. It goes without saying that Erik’s absolute strengths are getting the puck out and following along in attacks, the way he moves in the offensive zone and the courage in the game with the puck. We saw in the WC that he really took to it and played for the team to win, then we had many good examples of good defensive play as well. We hope that we will have an environment that brings out the best in Erik.
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