Nashville. On Tuesday night, Erik Carlson will be named the NHL’s top defenseman again.
But this in no way means that he has reached the pinnacle of his career.
“The sky’s the limit, I still haven’t had my best season,” says the youngster and makes it clear once again that he hopes to get on a team that can win the Stanley Cup.
Currently teeming with hockey stars in the heat of Nashville in the American South, because on Monday night, local time, the individual players who were the best in last season’s ice hockey regular season will be honored and rewarded at the annual awards ceremony at Bridgestone Arena – the Predators stormed home.
Among them, of course, is Eric Carlsson, who is nominated for the Norris Award, the award for best defender in the league, and the Ted Lindsay Award—the award given by the players themselves to the teammate they think is the best.
– It feels great, I’m so proud of Ted Lindsay’s nomination. That the men she competes with show such respect, that’s really a big deal. And whether you win after that or not, it doesn’t matter much. Here we’re all winners and we’ve had great seasons, says the 33-year-old San Jose Sharks star when he meets the media the day before the celebration in the Southern capital.
– At the same time, it is not this kind of victory that I prefer to celebrate, I want to win the Stanley Cup. I’ve always wanted it and feel like it’s more important as I get older.
So if you win awards here, wouldn’t you give a speech similar to the one Carlson gave recently after Vegas won the Stanley Cup?
– Haha I wish! If someone offered some whiskey, maybe…
“I knew I had that level.”
‘King Carl’ – who has already won the Norris Cup on two previous occasions, in 2012 and 2015 respectively – He was However, you’ll be able to chant as hard as names in the Nevada desert after last season.
After all, he defended a very exciting effort, becoming the first defender in over 30 years to score 100 points despite playing for a fairly terrible team and dominating some games in the same way as in Ottawa in the magical spring of 2017.
But if you believe him yourself, we haven’t seen anything Until now.
– I always knew that I still had this level. It was just a matter of getting there again. Now that I’ve done that, I feel like “the sky’s the limit”. I still haven’t had my best season, he confirms, adjusting new glasses he claims he wears “just to look smarter.”
hoping to move
However, the question is where the public will be able to experience the magic of the EK65 in the future. It’s no secret that Eric wants a car from the San Jose Sharks, who are currently in the rebuilding phase and won’t be competing for the Stanley Cup in the next few years.
The problem is that he still has four years left on a contract that few can afford – but hope lives on.
– Like I said, it’s no secret, I’ve been very open about how I see the situation. I enjoy San Jose a lot, but the club is in a position where it doesn’t feel very attractive to me. I’ve seen many over the years who should have won the Stanley Cup but never did and I don’t want to be one of them, he explains.
– We’ll see what happens, I’m open to all suggestions, there aren’t currently any particular teams I’m aiming to join, I’ll take a good look at everyone who might be relevant. Ottawa? It is definitely an option. I love Ottawa, and it’s no secret either. But again, we’ll see. Whether it happens now, in the next few days, or later this summer doesn’t really matter. I’m ready, but we have time.
First, a little vacation awaits you. After venturing into Nashville, Eric and the family return to Ottawa. He will then travel to Sweden, where he will receive the Victoria Award during the Crown Prince’s birthday party in Öland on July 14.
1/2Photo: Per Berman