Erik Karlsson Skates, Eyes Early Return To Ottawa Senators

Karlsson hopes to play in regular season after Achilles’ injury

When Erik Karlsson crumpled in the corner, reaching for the back of his leg after a collision with Matt Cooke, everybody knew it was bad news. The look on Karlsson’s face said it all long before doctors announced that he had suffered a severed Achilles’ tendon.

Normally, that type of injury would keep a hockey player out of action for six to eight months. However, Erik Karlsson is no ordinary player. He skated Monday with Ottawa’s skating coach at the team’s practice facility. And he didn’t just go out for a twirl, either. He stopped, started, took passes, turned, and fired pucks at a goaltender. In short, he looked really good.

Last year’s Norris Trophy winner was well on his way to another stellar season before the injury, putting up 10 points in 14 games while firing a staggering 63 attempts on goal. When Karlsson went down, most figured the Senators’ season was likely headed in the same direction especially after the injury bug also got to Jason Spezza, Craig Anderson and a host of other regulars.

That hasn’t happened. Ottawa heads into Tuesday night’s date with Tampa Bay in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race at sixth place. That said, this good news about their star defenseman couldn’t have come at a better time – the Sens have also lost four straight games.

“He’s a pretty optimistic guy and that’s a big help when you’re going through something like this,” Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson told the Ottawa Sun of Karlsson. “He doesn’t get down. He’s worked really hard. I’ve been impressed with his dedication. If somebody tells you the season is probably over, it would have been easy to just accept that, to say ‘OK, it’s over, I don’t have to do much.’ But he’s really pushed himself, and at least he’s giving himself a chance to come back.”

The Senators play nine more games after tonight, finishing up the regular season on April 27 at home to the Philadelphia Flyers. At this point, it’s impossible to know if there’s a realistic chance Karlsson will play again this year but that hasn’t kept his teammates from holding out hope. “It’s not that far-fetched he may play before the end of the season — before the end of the regular season,” goaltender Craig Anderson told the Sun. “He’s just determined. The way his body heals, the way his make up is. I’d love to see him [out there] at our next home game, but obviously that’s all speculation.”

The Senators aren’t going to let him play unless they’re completely convinced he is healthy, but whatever you do, don’t rule out the possibility. Karlsson’s first step on the ice Monday was a huge one. He may make many more before this year is over.