Erik Karlsson expected to return for Sharks after sidelined for nine games

Share

SAN JOSE -- It’s been a long time coming.

Since a last-minute scratch on Saturday, January 19 to be exact. But after being sidelined for nine straight games, Erik Karlsson is ready to pencil back into the lineup for the Sharks.

No. 65 joked with reporters after Saturday’s morning skate that he “shouldn’t jinx anything” but that he finally felt ready to return to gameplay. 

“It’s nice. It’s been a long time but I think it was handled the proper way,” he said.

Sharks bench boss Peter DeBoer agreed. “I think we took the right approach. We wanted to make sure and I think everyone’s comfortable that he’s ready. So, it’ll be nice to have him back.”

Karlsson stayed mum about the extent of his injury since he was first sidelined, but did double down on comments he made earlier in the week about the frustration and disappointment that came with recovering from an injury he’d never dealt with before.

“It was a different type of injury that I had to deal with this time from the previous ones that I’ve had,” he reiterated. “So it’s been very frustrating. Annoying at times. But I guess that’s the process of the whole thing. In a way, I’m happy I had to go through it, in case it ever pops up again.”

DeBoer paired Karlsson up with Marc-Edouard Vlasic during Saturday’s morning skate ahead of San Jose’s contest with the Vancouver Canucks. Although the two-time Norris Trophy-winner is an elite player that plays big minutes, DeBoer said he isn’t looking to push him too fast.

“He just has to get his timing back, get comfortable,” the coach explained. “It’s not easy when you miss -- I think he’s been out a month, almost. It’s going to take a little while. But this is the first step. Just get back, get comfortable.”

Karlsson agreed. “Every game is different, so we’ll see how it goes,” he said. “I know where I fit in and everyone else does as well. We’ll see where the game takes us.”
 

Contact Us