Erik Karlsson's Unexpected Assignment Shows How Much the Penguins Are Changing
Photo credit: TSN
For the first time in a long time that Erik Karlsson can remember, he's being used on the penalty kill this season, a further testament to how the team has changed.
Erik Karlsson is doing something new for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and something not very familiar in his NHL career.
The star defenseman scored his first goal of the season in a 4-3 loss to the Maple Leafs in Toronto on Monday. That part wasn't surprising. What, however, was surprising was his newfound and continued role as a penalty killer.
During Toronto's lone power play, Karlsson logged 1:16 of short-handed ice time, leading all Penguins defensemen. It's been a noticeable trend. Since Oct. 21, when the Penguins beat Vancouver 5-1, Karlsson has become a regular on the penalty kill.
"Penalty killing isn't very hard, I don't think, at least for the (defensemen), unless you get stuck out there for an extended period of time," Karlsson said. "But as a forward, I think you skate a lot more. As a (defensemen), I think it's more about positioning and relying on some bounces in front of the net here and there."
"I enjoy killing penalties," Karlsson said. "I think it's a fun aspect of the game. It feels nice to be able to do it again."
"I enjoy killing penalties," Karlsson said. "I think it's a fun aspect of the game. It feels nice to be able to do it again."
Erik Karlsson ranks 2nd on the team in penalty-kill minutes per game
In the eight games since, he's averaged 2:52 short-handed per game, second on the team only to partner Parker Wotherspoon (3:01).
That's a far cry from his earlier days in Pittsburgh, when he averaged just 28 seconds of PK time across the 2023-24 and early 2024-25 seasons.
In fact, prior to joining the Penguins, Karlsson hadn't averaged more than two minutes of penalty-kill time per game since his 2019-20 season with San Jose.
Highly touted for his offensive flair and three Norris Trophies, his defensive reputation has long been debated. But under head coach Dan Muse, he seems to be embracing a more well-rounded role.
Teammate Ryan Shea, one of the Penguins' top penalty killers, praises Karlsson's instincts and puck movement on the kill, attributes that help Pittsburgh's unit remain among the league's best.
Through Monday, the Penguins rank 10th in the NHL with an 83.3% penalty-kill success rate.
If Karlsson continues to thrive in this expanded role, it might mark one of the most interesting evolutions of his career-proof that even elite veterans can keep adding new layers to their game.
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