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Erik Karlsson makes bold comments on high expectations Sweden faces ahead of the Olympic Games
![[Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Sweden defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) warms-up before a game against Team Canada during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre.](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/640743.webp "[Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Sweden defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) warms-up before a game against Team Canada during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre.")
Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson, who will play for Sweden in the Olympics, talked about the enormous expectations facing his country in the tournament after last finishing with the silver medal in 2014.
Once again, Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson is representing his native Sweden in Olympic play and for the first time since he helped them win a silver medal in the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
He'll try and help Sweden claim their first gold medal in 20 years, which was also won in the same nation of Italy during the 2006 Torino Olympics.
As one of the top hockey nations next to Canada and the United States, Karlsson knows that the expectations for Sweden are going to be very high once again.
I think we all have the same expectations going into it, we want to win every game and win the gold medal, and I think that's always been our expectation as a nation in hockey because we've been good for a very long time, and still are, and we know if we play to the best of our abilities, we have a great chance at winning. Being able to put that all together, it's hard to pinpoint exactly how do you it, but I think that's kind of this thing we don't even have to speak about. It's just, we know everyone around us has the same expectations. - Erik Karlsson
Erik Karlsson Remains With The Penguins Despite Constant Trade Rumours
Karlsson was one of the most talked-about players in NHL trade rumours over the summer, as Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas wanted to trade him along with other players like Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust.
But all three players remain on the Penguins, who are currently in a playoff spot despite most gloomy predictions before the season began.
So far this year, his third wearing a Penguins sweater, Karlsson has 35 points (4G, 31A) in 51 games.
Also read on HockeyUnplugged :
Team Sweden makes a major call on Erik Karlsson ahead of its Olympic campaign
Team Sweden makes a major call on Erik Karlsson ahead of its Olympic campaign
| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 9|109 ANSWERS Erik Karlsson makes bold comments on high expectations Sweden faces ahead of the Olympic Games How will Sweden finish at the Olympics? | ||
| Gold Medal | 4 | 3.7 % |
| Silver Medal | 37 | 33.9 % |
| Bronze Medal | 52 | 47.7 % |
| No Medal | 16 | 14.7 % |
| List of polls | ||