Eric Karlsson is a well-known Canadian hockey player representing the NHL club Ottawa Senators. He is a winner of the Olympic Games and World Championships.
Biography
Eric Karlsson was born in May 1990 in Landsbrough. A future participant in the NHL All-Star Matches was first involved in a local hockey school, and at the age of 16 began playing in the Swedish youth league for the Sodertalje club. In the 2006/07 season, Karlsson played 10 games in which he scored 2 goals and 8 assists.
In 2007, Eric joined the Frelund youth team, as part of which he entered the ice arena in 38 fights and scored 37 (13 + 24) points. This game of the young defender attracted the attention of the coaching staff of the main team.
In March 2008, Eric Karlsson made his debut in the Swedish Elite Series. In a duel with the ХВ71 club, the defender managed an accurate throw to bring his team a victory in overtime.
The following season, Eric Karlsson managed to gain a foothold in the “Frelund” and spent 45 games for her in the regular season and 11 in the playoff series.
NHL appearances
In 2008, Karlsson was selected by the NHL Draft Club Ottawa Senators. But to begin with, the young Swedish defender was sent to gain experience at the Binghamton Senators farm club, who plays in the AHL. Eric played in 12 fights, in which he gave 11 assists.
On December 19, 2009, Karlsson made his NHL debut. He played for the Ottawa Senators in a victory duel against the Minnesota Wild club. In total for the 2009/10 season, Eric Karlsson took part in 60 fights, scored 5 goals and assisted teammates 21 times.
The next NHL regular season was no less successful for the Swedish hockey player. In 75 games, he scored 45 (13 + 32) points and for the first time became a member of the NHL All-Star Game.
The 2011/12 season brought Carlsson new achievements and rewards. He brilliantly played the regular season, setting a personal performance record - 19 goals and 59 assists in 81 bouts. Such indicators not only allowed him to take part in the All-Star Game again, but also brought Eric two prestigious trophies - “James Norris Trophy” (as the best defender of the league) and “Viking Award” (as the most successful representative of Sweden in the NHL). At the end of the season, Karlsson signed a new 7-year contract with the Ottawa Senators for a total of $ 45.5 million.
During a short lockout, the Swede played for the Finnish club "Jokerit", and then returned to the location of the "Senators". Over the next three years spent in Ottawa, Eric Karlsson played in 263 matches, in which he scored 63 goals and gave 173 assists.
According to the results of the 2014/15 season, he again won the James Norris Trophy trophy, and the next year for the third time took part in the NHL All-Star Game.
Team appearances
For the first time, Eric Karlsson tried on the form of the Swedish national team in 2008, when he played for the junior team at the World Cup. Despite the fourth team place, he was recognized as the best defender of the YChM with 7 assists in 6 matches.
A year later, Eric as part of the youth team became the silver medalist of the world championship. At this tournament, he scored 9 (2 + 7) points in 6 games and was again recognized as the best defender and selected in the “All-Star Team” of the championship.
Since 2010, Eric Karlsson has been a hockey player for the Swedish national team. The debut in the main team can be called successful: at the World Cup, the defender helped to win bronze medals.
Carlson had to wait 5 years for the next success in the international arena. At the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, he became a silver medalist in the Swedish national team, and 8 (4 + 4) points earned in 6 fights allowed Eric to be recognized as the best defender of the tournament.
