Erik Karlsson

Biography

Erik Sven Gunnar Karlsson is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenceman for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Karlsson was drafted in the first round, 15th overall, by the Ottawa Senators at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, with whom he spent his first nine NHL seasons; he has also played for the San Jose Sharks. Karlsson was a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award for most outstanding player as judged by his peers in 2023 and is a three-time winner of the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL's best defenceman, winning the award in 2012, 2015, and 2023 while also being a finalist for the award in 2016 and 2017.