“His actions have to match his ambitions”: Pittsburgh Penguins GM Kyle Dubas criticizes Erik Karlsson

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Apr 22, 2025, 23:20 IST

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Pittsburgh Penguins' General Manager Kyle Dubas has expressed concerns regarding Erik Karlsson's performance. Dubas wants Karlsson's actions to align with his ambitions. He also highlights inconsistencies in Karlsson's play. Dubas expects Karlsson to replicate his performance from the 4 Nations Face-Off. Some fans blame Dubas for acquiring Karlsson in the first place.

“His actions have to match his ambitions”: Pittsburgh Penguins GM Kyle Dubas criticizes Erik Karlsson

(Image via Getty: Erik Karlsson)

At Pittsburgh Hockey Now, Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas slammed 34-year-old Penguins ice hockey defenseman Erik Karlsson on April 21. Kyle Dubas said, “Erik(Karlsson) will forever be a polarizing figure. We expect him to be one of the people, that pulls us from where we are at and into contention. I had a long meeting with Erik on Friday. My push to him would be that his actions have to match his ambitions. That’s consistency, preparation, and training like every other player on the team.”
An X user commented, “More to the point: “His actions have to match my ambitions to get as many draft picks for him as possible.” Another fan wrote, “EK is 36... You think he’s listening to this bs? Delusional” A third fan wrote, “Same could be said about Dubas.”

Kyle Dubas Criticizes Erik Karlsson

It’s only been two years for Erik Karlsson with the Pittsburgh Penguins, so why is all the blame for the team’s failures directed at him

An X user wrote, “No one to blame but Dubas himself for wanting EK that badly. Especially when EK was on the decline. This 100% falls on Dubas.” In the two years that Erik Karlsson was with the Pittsburgh Penguins, he played a total of 164 games, in which he accumulated 22 goals, 87 assists, and 109 points. Is that bad?
We mean, the Pittsburgh Penguins have consistently been off the Stanley Cup Playoffs since the 2022-2023 NHL season, a year before Erik Karlsson entered the Penguins from the San Jose Sharks. Why is he only blamed? What about other veterans playing in the Pittsburgh Penguins for decades? Aren’t they too at fault?

Kyle Dubas expects Erik Karlsson to play for the Pittsburgh Penguins as he did for Sweden in the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off

Kyle Dubas talks about how well Erik Karlsson performed at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off and expects the same dedication towards his team, the Pittsburgh Penguins. The GM of Penguins said, “He showed throughout the year that he has another level to him, at times playing for us, certainly playing for Sweden at the 4 Nations Face-Off. He was a player, that you’d watch and say, ‘This guy can help any team not only content but probably win.’

Kyle Dubas continued, “But it’s emblematic of the rest of the group as well. There was moments of great play with too many inconsistencies, and we have to push them to get there. That’s the expectation that’s dictated by his talent level and the impact he can make. And it’s a joint venture. So, yes, part of it is on the team, part of it is on Erik. We have to find our way through.”
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