Former team Sweden coach rips Erik Karlsson for his uninspired play

The NHL's invitational '4 Nation Faceoff' doesn't begin for another three months, but teams are expected to release their rosters for the tournament in just over two weeks' time.

Why is the NHL insistent on releasing teams nearly an entire quarter of a year before the event I'll never know... but then again not a lot about this tournament makes much sense to me. It's essentially just a four team exhibition series played in the middle of the NHL season. Pass.

In any case, despite my feelings on the tournament there certainly are fans out there with genuine enthusiasm. Will Connor Bedard crack Canada's roster? Who starts in net for USA? Oh... and why can't Russia play again?

I jest on my last question, but there are a lot of serious unanswered questions with this tournament just three months out. What will Team Sweden look like? There's no denying that the country's hockey program is in a bit of a transition. The previous generation's superstars like Henrik Lundqvist, Nicklas Backstrom, and the Sedin twins have given way to the likes of Jacob Markstrom, Elias Pettersson and William Nylander. The Swedes carry considerable fire power up front with Pettersson, Nylander, Filip Forsberg, Mika Zibanejad, William Karlsson and Elias Lindholm. On the blue line they boast Victor Hedman who is about as close to Nicklas Lidstrom as you'll find these days. Behind Hedman they've got a solid D corps with Mattias Ekholm, Rasmus Dahlin, Hampus Lindholm, Rasmus Andersson, Gustav Forsling and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Oh yeah... and former 100+ point man Erik Karlsson. At least, depending on who you ask...

Former Team Sweden head coach Johan Garpenlov recently ripped Karlsson on Radiosporten, saying that the veteran defenseman doesn't deserve a roster spot on the team.

“Every match is so important and then you can’t afford to make these big mistakes like Erik Karlsson unfortunately does,” Garpenlöv to Radiosporten (translation via Google Translate).

Karlsson has struggled mightily in his two years since being acquired by the Pittsburgh Penguins. He had an absolutely remarkable campaign in 2022-23 with the San Jose Sharks, winning Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman after putting up 25 goals and 101 points. Penguins GM Kyle Dubas acquired Karlsson in a blockbuster deal that has been an awkward fit from the very start.

After a 45 point drop off last season, Karlsson has just 10 points in 17 games to start this season... a season that has the Penguins amongst the NHL's bottom feeders.

It's clear that Karlsson isn't fitting in in Pittsburgh and I'm willing to bet that he was looking forward to the 4 Nations Faceoff as a way to distract himself from an awful season. Will he be afforded that opportunity though?