San Jose Sharks owner Hasso Plattner rarely appears in public. Still, prior to the home opener (an ugly overtime loss), he got to work on the media to reflect about the team’s past and future – including his take on star defender Erik Karlsson.
Karlsson is no longer with the Sharks and patrols the blueline for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He is not part of the Sharks’ day-to-day business. That said, it sounds like there are times when Plattner still looks back on Karlsson’s association with the organization and has many regrets about that association with the franchise.
Plattner was candid about the tough decisions that led to the Sharks’ rebuild in 2022. “EK65 [Karlsson] was probably the last real attempt to maintain the level of the Thorntons and Pavelskis. First, one man is not enough. Secondly, you know his qualities and his shortcomings; he wasn’t the most team-friendly player. He was good, but he was probably very good on a very good team.” He added: “It wasn’t the right environment.”
The owner emphasized that reconstruction was a long-term necessity. With players like Brent Burns, Tomas Hertl and Joe Pavelski leaving and Logan Couture sidelined with injury, Plattner said, “There was no way we could save the team.” Although Karlsson remained a superstar, Plattner believes that relying on a single star is not enough to keep a competitor afloat.
Plattner also reflected on past regrets, especially letting Hertl leave. “I liked him a lot. We always had fun together and joked. He always had a smile on his face and was a good guy,” he said.
Focusing on the future for the sharks
Looking ahead, Plattner praised the current management and the young talent, including Macklin Celebrini and other prospects. He believes the team is on a steady upward trajectory, with the potential to be even better than previous Sharks teams.
With the salary cap rising, Plattner indicated that financial flexibility won’t be an issue if the team continues to perform. He said: “If we play better and there is a steady development into a competitive team then that shouldn’t be a problem.”
If there’s one takeaway from Plattner’s comments, it’s that Karlsson won’t be on his way back to San Jose. That ship has sailed.
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