He won the Norris Trophy and confirmed his claim of retirement! Karlsson wants to trade San Jose to another club

Swedish defenseman and the highest paid defenseman in the NHL, Erik Karlsson, has confirmed that he is asking to leave San Jose. He believes the club does not have the money to make the playoffs in the next few years. The Swedish back wants to play for the Stanley Cup later in his career.

Karlsson transferred to San Jose in 2018, from the Ottawa Senators. The Sharks clearly had help to the Stanley Cup. That’s also why the Californian outfit gave him a contract in June 2019 for $11.5 million a year until 2027, making him the highest-paid defenseman in the league.

But the chase for the Stanley Cup didn’t work out, Karlsson often struggled with injuries and only managed around 50 games in the last three seasons. But before the last one, he pulled himself together and had the year of his life.

He played all 82 games and collected 101 points on 25 goals and 76 assists, the most of his career. He also became the oldest defenseman in NHL history to cross the century mark.

As San Jose is currently in a rebuild and with ambitions of winning the Stanley Cup, Karlsson has previously considered staying in California.

And now it’s definitely confirmed. The thirty-three-year-old Swedish back wants to play in the playoffs and compete for the Stanley Cup later in his career.

“I want to have the opportunity to win. If that opportunity isn’t in San Jose right now within my timetable, then that’s just an unfortunate part of the business. It doesn’t mean I don’t like it there or that they don’t want me there or that they don’t want to make it work. That’s just the way it is,” Karlsson said at Sunday’s media day at Bridgestone Arena, where the 2023 awards were presented.

But the required replacement apparently won’t be so simple. That’s because Karlsson has a non-exchange clause in his eight-year contract. Plus, his salary and age won’t be accepted by just any general manager.

However, he reportedly has no preferred club in mind. Karlsson also said there is no bad blood between him and the Sharks.

According to the now three-time Norris Trophy winner, he simply wouldn’t have a chance to compete for a Stanley Cup in San Jose during the next four years of his contract. And that’s why Karlsson wants to trade the club.

Sources: NHL, Sportsnet