The Pittsburgh Penguins are eagerly awaiting the return of star defenseman Erik Karlsson, who has yet to step on the ice during the preseason due to an undisclosed upper-body injury. Although Karlsson has been sidelined for all of training camp and exhibition games, the two-time Norris Trophy winner is optimistic about his chances of suiting up for the Penguins’ season opener on October 9.
Karlsson, who resumed skating earlier this week, expressed his determination to be ready for the start of the season on the “The Loop” podcast, stating, “Yeah, that’s the plan,” when asked if he would be ready for opening night. This update, via B/R Open Ice, has offered a glimmer of hope for Penguins fans eager to see their high-profile offseason acquisition in action.
Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan echoed Karlsson’s optimism, calling the defenseman’s progress “really encouraging.” Sullivan noted that Karlsson’s skating session on Tuesday marked a significant step forward in his recovery. “(Tuesday) was really encouraging,” Sullivan said via TRIB Live. “Certainly, today was a good day.”
Erik Karlsson said that he plans on playing in the Penguins' season opener despite an undisclosed injury keeping him out of training camp practices and preseason games.
(via @GolfDigest's "The Loop" Podcast) pic.twitter.com/krIluP6r8r
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 2, 2024
However, not all updates have been as positive. According to The Athletic’s Josh Yohe, Karlsson recently experienced a setback in his recovery, which led the Penguins to pull him from on-ice activities for several days. While the Penguins are remaining tight-lipped about the details of Karlsson’s injury, Yohe speculated that Karlsson endured some form of setback after initially making strides in his rehabilitation.
“Karlsson was skating regularly for about a week, then had a couple of scheduled days off from the ice, but was shut down from skating during each of the past four days,” Yohe wrote.
Karlsson’s injury situation has become a point of focus for Penguins management and fans alike, as the team is taking a cautious approach with their star player to ensure he’s fully ready to contribute when the games start to count. With the season opener fast approaching, all eyes are on Karlsson’s recovery and whether he can make a full return to bolster Pittsburgh’s defense.
Despite the uncertainty, Karlsson’s determination to be on the ice on October 9 remains clear, and his presence will be crucial for a Penguins squad looking to make a deep playoff run in the upcoming season. For now, the team and its fans will have to wait and see if Karlsson can overcome this latest hurdle in time for the season’s first puck drop.
