Skip to content

Sharks’ Erik Karlsson grabs goal, assist for Pacific at 2023 NHL All-Star Game

Karlsson grabs goal, assist for Pacific Division at All-Star Game originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea

Erik Karlsson is one of the bright spots for the Sharks this 2022-23 NHL season, which hasn’t gone the way the team might have hoped. The veteran has recorded 16 goals and 60 assists for 66 points, which resulted in a 2023 NHL All-Star honor.

Karlsson is representing San Jose on the Pacific Division team, and it didn’t take the 32-year-old long to get on the point sheet during the contest against the Central Division on Saturday at FLA Live Arena.

The Sharks’ star defenseman connected with Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid to open the scoring for the Pacific in the first period.

However, Karlsson’s offensive contributions didn’t stop there. The two-time Norris Trophy winner then got on the score sheet again after receiving a pass from the Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl and sniped a shot to beat Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros.

Despite the star power of the Pacific squad with Karlsson and McDavid, the team fell 6-4 to the Central Division. Karlsson will return to the Bay, where his name has been floated in trade rumors with the March 3 NHL trade deadline fast approaching.

RELATED: Why Erik Karlsson, Sharks All-Star, maintained confidence through ‘bad years’

If the defenseman stays with the Sharks for the remainder of this season, fans heading to the Shark Tank will see Karlsson push for the third Norris Trophy of his NHL career.