Penguins Erik Karlsson breaks his silence on his major injury
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As the season draws near, Erik Karlsson addressed the media on Saturday and provided clarification regarding his injury status.
After missing the entire preseason due to an upper-body injury, Erik Karlsson stated he should be ready for the Pittsburgh Penguins' season opener against the New York Rangers on Wednesday at home.
«The season opener has always been the goal, and it's looking like that's going to happen,» said Karlsson, who was a full participant in team practice on Saturday. «It's going to be nice to get a few practices in with the regular group and get things going here. Unfortunate situation, but making the best out of the situation, and not too worried about anything.»
Karlsson seemed to have been overly cautious in an attempt to avoid making matters worse rather than being truly concerned about missing the season's opening.
He stated that the injury resulted from normal wear and tear from working out and that it occurred prior to the start of the UPMC training camp.
«Had a really good summer, feeling a little bit too young, and probably overdid a little bit,» the 34-year-old defenseman said with a laugh. «This time of the year, being a little bit extra cautious, I think was part of it. But I think from the start, it was nothing that we were too worried about. That's why we didn't make it a big deal. I just needed some time off to let a few things settle down, and once they did, I was pretty much good to go.»
Karlsson said that taking a little extra time off to allow his body to heal properly was the most important thing for his recovery, and it looks like he's done so successfully.
According to Mike Sullivan, players with Karlsson's caliber of play don't require as many reps to become proficient. Furthermore, "they're still pretty good" even if they're not quite as skilled or at the top of their game. The head coach of the Penguins laughed and said, "They can help you win." Karlsson, the NHL's best defenseman and three-time Norris Trophy winner, is also not overly concerned.
«At the end of the day, it's not that big of a deal, I don't think,» Karlsson said. «I've done it before, not playing preseason games. I think we had a pretty rock-solid plan from the beginning. The team around me has executed it perfectly. It's going to be nice to get those few practices in at least, to get some familiarity with the puck and stuff. I'm going to be ready and good to go on Wednesday. I've been preparing for that day as best I can, and I'm excited for it, just like everybody else.»
You can anticipate seeing Karlsson in the starting lineup when the Penguins play the New York Rangers on Wednesday to begin their regular season.
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