Erik Karlsson, defenseman for the Pittsburgh Penguins, is making progress in his recovery from a lower-body injury and hopes to return to play soon. He joined his teammates for practice in Calgary on Tuesday after missing the last four games.
Head Coach Dan Muse spoke about Karlsson’s presence at practice. “I think it’s a combination of the way he plays and the personality,” Muse said. “There’s always a big smile on his face at all times. And so, there’s definitely an energy you can see that he brings in on a daily basis.”
During a post-practice interview, Karlsson maintained a positive outlook and joked about not participating in power play drills but said overall he felt good. “It could be a lot worse,” said the three-time Norris Trophy winner as the NHL’s best defenseman. “I feel like everything is going according to what they told me when it when it first occurred. It’s something I haven’t dealt with before, but nothing major, so not something that I expect to be able to linger once I do come back.
“It’s nice to be able to be back in the in the swing of things here. Obviously I’m on the road trip not to be a mascot, but I’m hoping that I get to come back and play here soon.”
SportsNet Pittsburgh’s Colby Armstrong added humor by saying, “Best looking mascot in the league!” To which Karlsson replied, “Highest paid, too!”
Karlsson had played 208 consecutive games since joining the Penguins in August 2023 before this injury sidelined him. When asked if watching from above has changed his perspective, Karlsson responded with humor: “Yeah, I keep wondering why I’m not better when you’re watching from up top. It looks very easy, which I know it’s not.
“But no, it’s been kind of interesting to be able to especially watch some games live. Usually when you watch hockey, or I watch hockey, it’s on TV and it’s much different. So, it’s been fun. I’m not climbing the walls just yet, which is a good thing. And the guys have made it easy for me. They’ve done a good job in playing well. And I’m happy for guys that get the opportunity.”
The Pittsburgh Penguins are based in Pittsburgh and compete in the National Hockey League (NHL). Since their establishment in 1967 they have won several Stanley Cup titles and support youth development through community programs while encouraging fan engagement and access to ice hockey (https://www.nhl.com/penguins/).
