Sharks introduce Karlsson.
Karlsson, wife heard what Sharks had to say, bought in to swap
SAN JOSE >> Erik Karlsson and his wife, Melinda, sat down and talked face-to-face with Sharks general manager Doug Wilson and coach Pete DeBoer in Toronto earlier this month.
Karlsson wanted to know more about the two men and the Sharks organization, and in turn, Wilson and DeBoer wanted to familiarize themselves on a personal level with the two-time Norris Trophy winner.
“And I think from that day on, both of our views kind of matched up,” Karlsson said, “and I was extremely excited about what they had to say.”
A day after the meeting, the Sharks announced the blockbuster trade for Karlsson from the Ottawa Senators. Wednesday, the three were together again, this time to officially introduce Karlsson as a member of the Sharks in what was his first full day in San Jose as a member of the organization.
“I was truly blown away just by him as a person sitting with him,” Wilson said of the meeting. “The way he sees the game, the way he talks about the game. What his goals and aspirations are. That to me cemented that he would fit into this group so well.”
There is no timetable for when Karlsson might first get to play in an exhibition game. The Sharks play in Anaheim tonight and host Vegas on Saturday, and have three more exhibition games after that before the regular-season opener at home against the Ducks on Oct. 3.
“Right from the start, I’m going to do everything I can to fit in,” Karlsson said. “I see this as an extremely motivating challenge to try and grow as a player and a person. From everything so far, I’m going to have a great oppor-
tunity to do that.”
With work visa issues completed after the Sept. 13 trade, Karlsson arrived in San Jose late Tuesday after a long flight from Canada. He said he “had a pizza and went to bed” and arrived at the Sharks practice facility early Wednesday morning with his new team.
It was a fairly routine practice for the most part, with Karlsson paired with Marc-Edouard Vlasic in even strength drills. When the Sharks finished the skate with a game of 3-on3, though, the show began.
At one point, Brent Burns hit Karlsson with a 150-foot stretch pass to spring him for a breakaway. On another sequence, Karlsson raced to get a free puck in the corner of the offensive zone before he later found Burns open for a tap-in goal past Aaron Dell.
The third player on the ice with Burns and Karlsson was captain Joe Pavelski. DeBoer joked, “I don’t think Pav has ever played that much defense before. He was the only guy back.
“I don’t think there’s any adjustment,” DeBoer said. “We play up-tempo, we play aggressive. We play the way he plays. He’s going to fit right in.”
The Sharks did not practice their power play Wednesday, but seeing Karlsson practice with several of the Sharks’ top offensive players only whet everyone’s appetite.
“Today, playing three-on-three with Burnzie and Pav,” Karlsson said, “that’s not too shabby.”
Last September, Karlsson had surgery to remove part of his ankle bone and replace it with an artificial tendon. He was in some discomfort at that point, but said that now, after a long offseason, “the shape that I’m in right now and the mindset that I have, is that this is the best that it’s ever been.
“Where I’m at, both physically and mentally, is somewhere that I’ve never been before, so I’m extremely excited to get the season going. Being able to step into that locker room with that quality lineup, I’ll do everything I can to contribute as much as possible.”
Asked if he had a message to the city of Ottawa and his former team, which is heading into a full-blown rebuild, Karlsson said, “that was their decision to go the way they did, and I respect that. It’s part of the business. I wish them nothing but the best.
“From my perspective, I’m looking forward to my next chapter.”
Naturally, with Karlsson now in house, the question for the Sharks is whether they can sign him to a long-term contract, which could eclipse the eight-year, $88 million extension that Drew Doughty signed with the Los Angeles Kings this summer.
Karlsson, 28, is in the last season of his sevenyear, $45.5 million deal he signed with Ottawa in 2012.
“As of right now, I’m just focused on starting the season as good as I possibly can to help this team win games, and that’s where I’m at right now,” Karlsson said. “We’ll go from there.”
Wilson doesn’t discuss contract extensions publicly but reiterated the Sharks made the deal with the long term future in mind.
“We’re very comfortable with the situation,” Wilson said.
From going to meet Karlsson, to having owner Hasso Plattner call Karlsson and his wife, the Sharks — from the top down — are doing whatever they can to make the superstar defenseman as welcome as possible in his present surroundings.
“Speaking with Mr. Plattner was very reassuring,” Karlsson said.