Erik Karlsson makes his first WC since 2012.
Then Per Svartvadet says exactly what all Swedes want to hear.
– This is the best reinforcement Sweden can get, says the expert.
Erik Karlsson has just finished his first season with his new team the Pittsburgh Penguins. There was a lot of drama about the last playoff spot in the league, but in the penultimate round it was clear that the Penguins had finished playing for the season, and thus an opportunity was opened for Erik Karlsson to join the WC.
The Swedish dream reinforcement
The Swedish superstar, who was named the NHL’s best defenseman three times during his career, has not played in the World Cup since 2012, nor has he played in Tre Kronor since 2016, when he was on the World Cup team. But now it’s time again. Yesterday came the news that Karlsson accepted, and will join the team in Prague, where the tournament starts on May 10.
In a clip on Tre Kronor’s social media, the star talks about the pride he feels.
– I am arriving at the WC this year down in the Czech Republic. It will be extremely fun, I am incredibly proud to be able to wear the Tre Kronor shirt again, he says, and continues:
– I am looking forward to it immensely.
The joy of the expert
For Tre Kronor, it is a welcome addition to an already star-studded team. From before, another back star, Rasmus Dahlin, is ready for the tournament, and there are also rumors of reinforcements in the form of Joel Eriksson-Ek and André Burakovsky. But the fact that Erik Karlsson is now coming to the WC makes Radiosport’s expert Per Svartvadet rejoice.
– You can say that either Santa comes early or late… But he will come to the hockey World Cup anyway!, he says.
Erik Karlsson became the first defenseman in over 30 years to reach 100 points in the NHL last year, and even though he didn’t reach the same level this season, there is a lot of star shine that connects to the tournament.
– This is the best reinforcement Sweden can get for the WC. He has been one of the NHL’s best defensemen for a long time. Offensively skilled, and he will raise the status of this WC tournament and above all Tre Kronor, says Svartvadet.
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