Karlsson hopes to ‘fit in’ on first day with Sharks
SAN JOSE, California — Erik Karlsson was handed a teal San Jose Sharks sweater and immediately proclaimed: “It fits.”
Karlsson’s first day with the Sharks went off without a hitch Wednesday. He paired up with Marc-Edouard Vlasic on defence in practice, took part in 3-on-3 drills with fellow Norris Trophy winner Brent Burns and began a new chapter in his career after nine seasons as the face of the Ottawa Senators.
“It’s definitely going to be a change,” he said. “I like to see challenges and I think it will be a fun challenge not only for me but this whole team. They’ve been a successful team for a number of years. They were extremely good last year and I’m extremely excited to be part of a good organization and good hockey club right from the start. I’ll do everything I can to fit in as good as I possibly can.”
The Sharks made the big deal to acquire the two-time Norris Trophy-winning Karlsson from the Senators last week for a package of young players and picks, adding a world-class player to a team now expected to contend in the ultratough Western Conference.
Karlsson joins a team with a top goaltender in Martin Jones; skilled forwards in Logan Couture, Evander Kane, Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski; and one of the league’s top defensive units featuring 2017 Norris winner Burns and perhaps the game’s top shutdown defenceman in Vlasic.
“I don’t think Erik has to adapt at all,” coach Peter DeBoer said. “He just has to do what he does. He’s one of the best players on the planet. We just need him to do what he’s done for his whole career.”
The acquisition was met with great fanfare from the billboards welcoming Karlsson to San Jose overlooking Bay Area freeways and an introductory news conference at a local hotel.
The Sharks are doing everything they can to make Karlsson and his family feel comfortable in the new environment because they want to keep him long term. The 28-year-old is entering the final season of his contract.
“As of right now I’m just focused on starting the season as good as I possibly can to help this team win games,” Karlsson said. “That’s where I’m at right now and we’ll go from there.”
The Sharks have had great success keeping star players at home. GM Doug Wilson has acquired several big-name players during his tenure from Thornton to Dan Boyle to Burns. The only player he wasn’t able to keep was defenceman Brian Campbell, who joined the team at the trade deadline in 2008 and then signed with Chicago the following summer.