Latest news with #ErikKarlsson
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dan's Daily: Coaches Fired; Tocchet Brutal Honesty; The Penguins Future
The Pittsburgh Penguins locker room is clean. The players grabbed their stuff, got their exit physicals, and bolted Friday, but the reverberations of their final public conversations will carry for the next couple of months. While some players are fighting to stay, Erik Karlsson was frustrated and non-committal. Elsewhere, it was a bad day for coaches as the Anaheim Ducks surprisingly and New York Rangers expectedly sent bench bosses packing. And I'm not sure how to describe what Vancouver Canucks coach Rick Tocchet said about Elias Pettersson, but it wasn't good. A little news item if you're interested, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins first-round series will be against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Flyers affiliate). The teams pretty much hate each other. The best-of-three series begins Wednesday in Wilkes-Barre, then Friday in Allentown, and if necessary, Sunday in Wilkes-Barre. Allentown is quite a nice arena for AHL standards, so I'd encourage Penguins fans to make a trip to WBS or LV, but if you go to Allentown, eat at a chain restaurant. Advertisement Having killed a full day in Allentown last year, I tried several places and … yeah, definitely eat at a chain restaurant. Also, shame on TNT. The fan atmosphere and sounds are great things about a game in Winnipeg. But TNT did the Game 1 broadcast remotely. Look, I understand cost control and cost/benefit more than most, but Winnipeg and the NHL deserve better. The broadcast had a terrible feel to it, TERRIBLE, as they didn't get the crowd noise mixed in well, and the venerable broadcasters clearly weren't feeling the energy. There are ways to avoid that lazy bit of broadcasting, and I hope Gary Bettman or someone at the NHL expressed their extreme displeasure. Fans rightfully did. Pittsburgh Penguins A busy day in the mill… Advertisement Pittsburgh Hockey Now: This story took quite a while to research and write, though it's not exactly about hockey. I covered all 82 games this season. PHN had two people at the home games, but I did all 41 on the road. I waffled a few times and thought about waving the white flag, but we got there. Not without some harrowing moments, and not without some real sacrifice (like sleep). I totaled up all of the miles on the road, in the air, and on the tracks and told a few tales from the road in the PHN Penguins travel blog. Thank you all so very much for the incredibly kind words and compliments. On YouTube, X, and here, I've been shocked at how many of you followed along and genuinely appreciate how we cover the team (we do have the biggest audience of all Penguins coverage). But I also got my reality check when I sat beside a season-ticket holder at my neighborhood bar last night, and he had no idea who I was. Message received, Universe. Message received. Dave Molinari took a firm stance on what Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas should do with Bryan Rust. Dave made one point that I don't think anyone else has made, but I won't spoil the ending or the path to get there. Read up on Rust and his Penguins future. I took the Erik Karlsson story. I'll confess to going bonkers in the overcrowded media scrum, shaking my head, and getting frustrated. Respect to all, but the couple of us who understood what was actually happening couldn't get our question out as people asked about offseason travel plans and the power play (Cmon people, think!) And THEN credit to Wes Crosby of for beating me to it and asking the big one. An obviously frustrated Karlsson was personally complimentary of the Penguins, but left the door wide open to his future. Here's the full story and raw video on the future of Erik Karlsson. Advertisement The video of Karlsson talking about his future is exclusive to PHN. I was the only one still filming, and damnit, I was going to get that question answered if I had to chase him into the parking lot. NHL Rumors, News, & National Hockey Now Forever Blueshirts: GM Chris Drury had to fire another coach. He sacked Peter Laviolette Saturday, and he took full responsibility for the NYR's failure this season. It's going to be an interesting summer for the New York Rangers. I still have no idea which way the Rangers will go on that first-round pick they owe the Penguins. It is 11th overall, so they can keep it. If they do keep the 2025, Dubas CANNOT trade the '26 pick because it might be his Willy Wonka golden ticket for Gavin McKenna (the 2026 phenom). Advertisement Greg Cronin got the boot in Anaheim despite a 23-point improvement. GM Pat Verbeek was mum on the reasons, which only made the firing look worse for the coach. Sportsnet: Despite the low-energy broadcast of a high-energy event, the Winnipeg Jets got what they needed. A big third-period comeback, a raucous crowd, and a Game 1 win. Colorado Hockey Now: Oh, it was a game, but it was obviously Colorado's game against Dallas. They are so much faster than Dallas that this series (as I predicted) could be short. The heroes and villains, the studs and duds, the breakdown of the Colorado Avalanche Game 1 win. Daily Hive: Rick Tocchet wasn't very complimentary of Elias Pettersson, criticizing his preparation this season. Tocchet also lamented the rift between Pettersson and J.T. Miller. It was an mentally exhausting ride that ruined the Canucks season and Tocchet was honest about it. The post Dan's Daily: Coaches Fired; Tocchet Brutal Honesty; The Penguins Future appeared first on Pittsburgh Hockey Now.
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
'His actions have to match his ambitions': Pittsburgh Penguins GM Kyle Dubas criticizes Erik Karlsson
(Image via Getty: Erik Karlsson) At Pittsburgh Hockey Now , Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas slammed 34-year-old Penguins ice hockey defenseman Erik Karlsson on April 21. Kyle Dubas said, 'Erik(Karlsson) will forever be a polarizing figure. We expect him to be one of the people, that pulls us from where we are at and into contention. I had a long meeting with Erik on Friday. My push to him would be that his actions have to match his ambitions. That's consistency, preparation, and training like every other player on the team.' An X user commented, 'More to the point: 'His actions have to match my ambitions to get as many draft picks for him as possible.' Another fan wrote, 'EK is 36... You think he's listening to this bs? Delusional' A third fan wrote, 'Same could be said about Dubas.' Kyle Dubas Criticizes Erik Karlsson Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Brazilian Bikinis 2025 Expertinspector Click Here Undo It's only been two years for Erik Karlsson with the Pittsburgh Penguins, so why is all the blame for the team's failures directed at him An X user wrote, 'No one to blame but Dubas himself for wanting EK that badly. Especially when EK was on the decline. This 100% falls on Dubas.' In the two years that Erik Karlsson was with the Pittsburgh Penguins, he played a total of 164 games, in which he accumulated 22 goals, 87 assists, and 109 points. Is that bad? We mean, the Pittsburgh Penguins have consistently been off the Stanley Cup Playoffs since the 2022-2023 NHL season, a year before Erik Karlsson entered the Penguins from the San Jose Sharks . Why is he only blamed? What about other veterans playing in the Pittsburgh Penguins for decades? Aren't they too at fault? Kyle Dubas expects Erik Karlsson to play for the Pittsburgh Penguins as he did for Sweden in the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off Kyle Dubas talks about how well Erik Karlsson performed at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off and expects the same dedication towards his team, the Pittsburgh Penguins. The GM of Penguins said, 'He showed throughout the year that he has another level to him, at times playing for us, certainly playing for Sweden at the 4 Nations Face-Off. He was a player, that you'd watch and say, 'This guy can help any team not only content but probably win.' Kyle Dubas continued, 'But it's emblematic of the rest of the group as well. There was moments of great play with too many inconsistencies, and we have to push them to get there. That's the expectation that's dictated by his talent level and the impact he can make. And it's a joint venture. So, yes, part of it is on the team, part of it is on Erik. We have to find our way through.' Also Read: 'WHY THE F*CK DID SKINNER START THIS GAME': Fans want Calvin Pickard instead of Stuart Skinner for Game 2 of Edmonton Oilers | NHL News - The Times of India Get the latest IPL 2025 updates on Times of India , including match schedules , team squads , points table and IPL live score for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Don't miss the list of players in the race for IPL Orange Cap and IPL Purple cap .
New York Times
20-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Penguins' Kyle Dubas should do himself a favor and trade Erik Karlsson this summer
CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Erik Karlsson is a very likable guy. He's smart, he's funny, he oozes charisma and his personality is almost as powerful as his Hall of Fame credentials. Combine his persona with his unique, daredevil on-ice artistry, and you've got the closest thing the NHL can produce to James Bond. Advertisement Therein lies the problem. The Penguins need substance far more than they need style. They need stability far more than they need someone who would rather trade chances. They also need to unload some contracts badly if they wish to contend sooner rather than later. It's easy to say that carrying bad contracts isn't a big deal until you're ready to contend, but I assure you that it's never a good thing, and that it will restrict the ascent back into contention. Trading for Karlsson was a worthy experiment. I complimented Kyle Dubas for the blockbuster trade in August of 2023, thought Karlsson was born to be a Penguin and argued that the trade made sense because the Penguins were ridding themselves of dead money in the process. I was wrong. On some level, sure, it did make sense. One can very easily understand Dubas' thought process when making the deal. Some good came out of it. In the end, however, it was a failure. And it's time to move on. The reasons to trade Karlsson are many: • He counts $10 million against the salary cap in each of the next two seasons and turns 35 this offseason. That's far too much money for what he brings to the table at this stage of his career. • His notoriously bad defensive work was far worse than usual this season, as he made frequent mistakes that were amateurish, especially for a player of his extraordinary talent. • He's been so ineffective on the power play during his time with the Penguins that he was replaced by Matt Grzelcyk … and the top power play was much better with Grzelcyk running the show. • Karlsson either refuses to be coached or is simply unable to retain information from coaches and execute said instruction in game situations. • Karlsson is a very friendly, likable fellow, but his laid-back, untroubled attitude — while endearing — simply isn't what the Penguins need. They need urgency, no-nonsense and accountability. Advertisement • The Penguins have many young players who are nearly NHL-ready and will be on the team next season, including Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen. Stud defenseman Harrison Brunicke will be here sooner rather than later. Other promising players are on the way. I can't imagine a galaxy in which Karlsson being around young players is a good thing. No, he's not a bad guy. Far from it. I don't even mean to suggest that. But I would suggest that the way he plays and the way he composes himself, while beneficial for him, isn't what you want young players emulating. At all. But can it be done? Multiple league sources have told me in recent months that, if Dubas were to retain a portion of Karlsson's contract — maybe $2.5 million annually — some teams would be intrigued. No one is interested in paying him $10 million per year, but at, say, $7.5 million annually? There is a belief in league circles that at least a couple of teams would be interested. Karlsson's warts are clear for everyone to see, but he still drives offense substantially in five-on-five play, and his talent is so dazzling that perhaps he could be of use to the right team. That team is not the Pittsburgh Penguins. The truth is, Kris Letang's performance wasn't any better than Karlsson's this season. If the Penguins are serious about winning, they can't possibly have Karlsson, Letang and Ryan Graves in their top six to begin next season. Those three were all atrocious this season and aren't showing signs of improvement. The combined cost of those three alone comprises almost 25 percent of the Penguins' salary cap. Let that sink in. Graves can't possibly be tradable. Were Dubas to find a taker for even a portion of his salary, it would topple Jim Rutherford's magically dumping the completely washed-up (and overpaid) Rob Scuderi for Trevor Daley as trades that simply leave you in awe. He still has four years remaining on his deal and, quite simply, he's one of the NHL's worst players. Advertisement I don't believe that Letang is movable either. First, he has a full no-movement clause, one that I'm not sure he'd be willing to budge. Maybe he would, maybe he wouldn't. I don't know. But I do know this: Letang turns 38 in a few days, he's had two strokes, he just had a procedure last week to close a hole in his heart, he's already endured career-threatening neck surgery, his marvelous skating ability is beginning to decline, he just endured his worst NHL season and he still has three years (with a $6.1 million annual cap hit) remaining on his deal. Who would want that package in a trade? All of which brings us back to Karlsson. Some creativity might be required, but I believe you could deal him. While he also has a full no-movement clause, he isn't firmly entrenched in Pittsburgh the way other veterans such as Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Letang are. Their legacy is in Pittsburgh. Karlsson's is not. While I think he likes it here well enough, I don't think he would block Dubas from moving him. When assessing the Penguins' roster next season and beyond, their situation at forward is still very good. Crosby is still a superstar. He's surrounded by legitimate talent in Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell, Malkin, Koivunen, McGroarty and Thomas Novak. Goaltending is a problem, but in Sergei Murashov, there is hope, and in Tristan Jarry, there is at least talent, if not stability. The Penguins' blue line is embarrassing. It's the NHL's worst unit. Crosby said something Friday that I don't recall ever hearing him say before. When he was asked about improvements that are required for the Penguins, he spoke at length about the Penguins needing to become 'more stingy defensively.' When you think of becoming 'more stingy defensively,' do you think of Karlsson? Me neither. The captain is correct. If the Penguins want to become a Stanley Cup team again, they will require an infusion of young talent, they will need to make intelligent decisions on July 1 and they'll need to be patient. That's the way it works. Advertisement But before you become a contender again, you first must become a playoff team again. It's been three years. The biggest problem for the Penguins during the past three seasons, and especially this most recent one, is that they're the worst defensive team in hockey. Don't think for a second that Karlsson doesn't play a significant role. For the money he makes, you could acquire two legitimately good defensemen who actually play defense. And that doesn't mean they will treat the puck like a hand grenade. The Karlsson experiment sounded good. It was promising. It had its entertaining moments. But the truth is, it has made the Penguins a lesser hockey team. Karlsson is refreshing to speak with because of his candidness and honesty. But there's nothing honest about the way he plays hockey, and that's what the Penguins need more than anything. They need stability. They need substance. They need to get younger. They need to acquire players who don't hog as much salary. Karlsson won't be around when this team is ready to contend for a championship. The longer he stays around, his presence will hurt that process. It's time.
CBS News
12-03-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Erik Karlsson's overtime winner lifts Pittsburgh past Vegas 3-2
Erik Karlsson scored 49 seconds into overtime to lift the Pittsburgh Penguins past the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 on Tuesday night. Vegas tied it late in regulation on a slapshot by Noah Hanifin with 6 seconds remaining. The Golden Knights never touched the puck in the extra period. Pittsburgh controlled the faceoff and held onto it until Karlsson ripped his ninth goal of the season from just above the right circle. Sidney Crosby scored twice for Pittsburgh, which has won two straight. The Penguins superstar now has 23 goals on the season, including five in his last five games. Tristan Jarry made 35 saves in his first home start in nearly two months. Pavel Dorofeyev scored his 25th goal of the season on a one-timer in the second period. Jack Eichel assisted on Dorofeyev's goal to give him 78 points, tying William Karlsson's single-season club record set in 2017-18. Vegas dominated play for lengthy stretches but struggled to solve Jarry. The Golden Knights needed a rocket from Hanifin and a screen by Tomas Hertl in front to earn at least a point. Golden Knights: Vegas is in a tight race with Edmonton for the Pacific Division title. They might regret their inability to take down one of the NHL's worst teams when the playoff picture is settled next month. Penguins: Despite the late goal, Jarry was excellent most of the night. If he can build momentum down the stretch, it could either make him a more palatable trade target this summer or perhaps even revitalize his career in Pittsburgh. Jarry was excellent all night, including a series of saves midway through the third period that had the crowd that booed him frequently earlier in the year cheering his name instead. Crosby is the seventh player in NHL history to reach 70 points in 15 seasons. Vegas continues a four-game road trip on Thursday in Columbus. Penguins host St. Louis on Thursday. ___
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Suzdalev Is Shining In South Carolina
The path to hockey can take different routes: roller hockey, floor hockey, even bandy. That's how South Carolina Stingrays forward Alexander Suzdalev was turned onto the sport. Born in Khabarovsk, Russia, Suzdalev was introduced to hockey by his father, a professional bandy player. Bandy, a sport similar to field hockey but played on ice with 11 players per side and a rubber ball instead of a puck, was Suzdalev's first experience on skates. However, he quickly gravitated toward hockey. "I started skating when I was two years old,' Suzdalev said via Stingrays PR. 'I started with bandy first, but then I switched right to hockey. My dad tried both hockey and bandy but chose to play bandy.' 'He wanted to let me choose too, and I'm thankful that I chose hockey because I think it's better," he added with a laugh. Hockey has certainly been the right choice for Suzdalev, who is making an impact in his first season of North American professional hockey. Drafted by the Washington Capitals 70th overall in the third round of the 2022 NHL Draft, Suzdalev signed a three-year entry-level contract with Washington on July 15, 2022. He has spent most of this season in the ECHL with the Stingrays, Washington's ECHL affiliate, and has emerged as one of the team's top offensive contributors, recording 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists) in 36 games. At age seven, Suzdalev moved to Sweden, where he spent the majority of his youth hockey career. He played in the small town of Vetlanda, which also produced NHL stars like Erik Karlsson and Johan Franzen. "He (Erik Karlsson) actually came back and visited us and skated with us once," Suzdalev recalled. "Also, Johan Franzen is from there, too, and he was a Detroit Red Wings legend. We looked up to those two guys because they came from a small village and made it to the NHL." Suzdalev's development in Sweden led him to international success. He won a U18 World Championship with the Swedish national junior team. After being drafted by the Capitals, Suzdalev attended their Development Camp, where he immediately impressed Washington's Director of Minor League Operations, Jason Fitzsimmons. "I'd seen him on video, but I never saw him live until we got him over here in North America for Development Camp," Fitzsimmons told the Stingrays. "Right away, you could see the skill and the confidence with the puck. We knew he was going to be something special here. I think right now, he's on the perfect path to play in the NHL." Following the draft, Suzdalev played the 2022-23 season with the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League (WHL), where he recorded 86 points (38-48-86) in 66 games. In Regina, he played alongside former 2023-24 NHL Rookie of the Year and current Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard. In 2023-24, Suzdalev continued in the WHL with the Saskatoon Blades, tallying 25 points in 30 regular-season games and 13 points in 16 playoff games. The Capitals placed him in the WHL to help him adjust to the North American style of play. "I think it was the right path, going to North America and getting used to playing in a smaller rink," Suzdalev said. "It was a little bit of an adjustment because everything happens quicker on the smaller ice. You have to think faster and be quicker. I think that's when skill takes over." This season marks Suzdalev's first as a professional in North America. He turned 21 on March 5 and has taken significant strides in his development. Fitzsimmons saw the ECHL as the ideal place for Suzdalev to continue growing within the Capitals' system. "The ECHL is the perfect sweet spot for where he is in his development," Fitzsimmons explained. "It's better than junior hockey, and it's not quite the AHL yet, but it's not far off. So I think it's perfect for his development. We wanted him under our umbrella, where he could get the development from our South Carolina coaches, whom we have incredible faith in." Suzdalev has embraced his opportunity with the Stingrays. "I really wanted to come here to see how this league is and how I can develop here," Suzdalev said. "I've been liking it a lot so far. It's good hockey, good physicality, and good for me to develop. I want to get to the NHL." Stingrays Head Coach Jared Nightingale has been impressed with Suzdalev's performance this season. "Suzy is very talented, and his ceiling is extremely high," Nightingale said. "I think he has done a good job embracing being here and getting better. He has played junior hockey, and now he's playing against men. It's important for his development to face that physicality night in and night out. And I think that's where Suzy has done a really good job." Suzdalev also had the opportunity to play two games for the Hershey Bears, Washington's AHL affiliate, in February. He viewed it as a positive experience. "It was great to have that opportunity in Hershey, especially since I've been playing a lot here," Suzdalev said. "I definitely felt like a different player, coming in there with all the playing time here and how I have developed. I went there with a great mindset and did my best to help the team win, and it was good that we won both games." With his skill, work ethic, and the right developmental path, Suzdalev is well on his way to achieving his NHL dreams.
