Erik Karlsson is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenseman who plays for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL as of 2024. Born on May 31, 1990, he was drafted by the Ottawa Senators 15th overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. Karlsson spent his first nine seasons with the Senators before also playing for the San Jose Sharks.
He is a three-time winner of the prestigious James Norris Memorial Trophy, awarded to the NHL's best defenseman, in 2012, 2015, and 2023. He began his career in Sweden with Frölunda HC and quickly made an impact, securing a playoff spot for the team in his debut season.
Erik Karlsson teams
Karlsson has played for the Ottawa Senators, San Jose Sharks, and now with the Pittsburgh Penguins in his NHL career. Before the NHL, Karlsson played for Södertälje SK of J18 Allsv and later joined the Frölunda HC of the Swedish Hockey League.
Ottawa Senators (2009–2018)
Karlsson made his NHL debut on October 3, 2009, against the New York Rangers, recording his first point with an assist. He scored his first NHL goal against Niklas Bäckström of the Minnesota Wild on December 19, 2009.
During his time with the Senators, he was selected for the 2011 NHL All-Star Game after recording 25 points in 41 games. Karlsson won his first James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2012 as the NHL's best defenceman. He became the second Swedish player to win this award, joining Hall of Famer Nicklas Lidström.
Karlsson set a franchise record for points in the 2011-2012 season by a defenceman with 78 points. He also registered his 100th career point in a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on December 16, 2011, during his time with the Senators. On October 2, 2014, Karlsson was named as captain, as he led all NHL defencemen in points, scoring a career-high 21 goals. In 2015, he won the Norris Trophy again in 2015 and became a finalist for the award multiple times throughout his Senators career, including a second-place finish in 2016. He led the Senators to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2017, achieving a playoff record for defencemen with 10 points and eight assists.
San Jose Sharks (2018–2023)
On September 13, 2018, Karlsson was traded to the Sharks, where he continued to excel. With the Sharks, he set a franchise record for most consecutive games with a point (14) during the 2018–19 season. He recorded his first goal with the Sharks on November 18, 2018. Karlsson signed an eight-year, $92 million contract on June 17, 2019, making him the then-highest-paid defenceman in NHL history as per Wikipedia.
In the 2022–23 season, Karlsson scored his first NHL career hat trick on November 1, 2022. He became the first defenceman to score 100 points in a season since Brian Leetch in 1991–92, finishing the season with 101 points (25 goals, 76 assists).
Karlsson won his third Norris Trophy in 2023 and was named to the NHL First All-Star Team. He was also a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award, given to one of the league's most outstanding players.
Pittsburgh Penguins (2023- present)
Karlsson was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2023. He played all 82 games for the Penguins and finished the season with 11 goals and 45 assists.
FAQs on Erik Karlsson teams
A. Erik Karlsson is playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL as of 2024.
A. Erik Karlsson use snus, a Swedish form of dipping tobacco, during games.
A. Erik Karlsson's average annual salary is $11,500,000 under his eight-year $92 million contract
A. Erik Karlsson finished the 2022-2023 season with 11 goals.
