From Cradle to Cup will be a series running throughout July 2013 looking back at players on the 2013 Chicago Blackhawks roster for their Stanley Cup-winning campaign. Part 1 takes a look at third string goalie Henrik Karlsson.
Henrik Karlsson was born on November 27th, 1983 in Tumba, Sweden. He began playing in the Swedish U18 league in 2000 with Hammarby IF Stockholm, appearing in two games and surrendering seven goals. He advanced to the Swedish Junior league in the same organization, appearing in thirty-six games for Hammarby IF Stockholm from 2000-2002, allowing 153 goals while playing to a goals-against average in the mid-4 range, which is typically not considered strong. Between 2003 and 2004, Karlsson went to the third-tier league in the Swedish system, playing for his hometown team Botkyrka HC Tumba in 21 games, although statistics are unknown. He also had a shutout in one game for Olofstroms IK in the 2004-05 season. He was promoted to the second-tier Swedish league after that appearance, playing for IK Oskarshamn and making twelve appearances while surrendering twenty-eight goals. In 2006-2007, Karlsson returned to the Hammarby IF Stockholm system, playing for their tier-2 team in thirty-five games, posting a 3.52 GAA. In 2007-2008, Karlsson began the season with Hammarby, but was traded to the Malmo Redhawks late in the year. Between the two clubs, Karlsson maintained a 3.75 GAA over thirty-two appearances in goal. He improved in his first full season with the Redhawks in 2008-09, dropping his GAA to 2.45 with four shutouts in thirty-two games, before being promoted to Swedish Elitserien, the top level of Swedish hockey, with Sodertalje SK. In 15 games with Sodertalje, Karlsson allowed only thirty-three goals. He was on the move again for the 2009-2010 season, playing for Farjestads BK Karlstad in the Elitserien, making thirty-four appearance while allowing a 2.45 GAA. Karlsson then signed a one year contract with the Calgary Flames of the NHL after being traded from the San Jose Sharks. With a big-league role in mind, Karlsson was able to avoid the KHL of eastern Europe. During the 2010-2011 season, Karlsson made seventeen appearances, of which eleven were starts, and posted a 2.58 GAA with a 4-5-0 record and a .908 save percentage. His moderate success was not replicated in 2011-2012, and Karlsson struggled in his nine appearances for the Flames, to the tune of a 1-4-0 record and a 3.17 GAA during the season. He also appeared in four games for the Flames' AHL affiliate, the Abbotsford Heat, with a 2.26 GAA and a 2-2-0 record. However, because of a midseason injury to his MCL and a lack of success, the Flames determined Karlsson was expendable, and at the end of the 2012-2013 lockout, Karlsson was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks for a seventh round draft pick. Karlsson did not play in any games for Blackhawks during their Stanley Cup run, sitting at third on the depth chart behind Corey Crawford and Ray Emery, but he did play for their AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs.
Henrik Karlsson was born on November 27th, 1983 in Tumba, Sweden. He began playing in the Swedish U18 league in 2000 with Hammarby IF Stockholm, appearing in two games and surrendering seven goals. He advanced to the Swedish Junior league in the same organization, appearing in thirty-six games for Hammarby IF Stockholm from 2000-2002, allowing 153 goals while playing to a goals-against average in the mid-4 range, which is typically not considered strong. Between 2003 and 2004, Karlsson went to the third-tier league in the Swedish system, playing for his hometown team Botkyrka HC Tumba in 21 games, although statistics are unknown. He also had a shutout in one game for Olofstroms IK in the 2004-05 season. He was promoted to the second-tier Swedish league after that appearance, playing for IK Oskarshamn and making twelve appearances while surrendering twenty-eight goals. In 2006-2007, Karlsson returned to the Hammarby IF Stockholm system, playing for their tier-2 team in thirty-five games, posting a 3.52 GAA. In 2007-2008, Karlsson began the season with Hammarby, but was traded to the Malmo Redhawks late in the year. Between the two clubs, Karlsson maintained a 3.75 GAA over thirty-two appearances in goal. He improved in his first full season with the Redhawks in 2008-09, dropping his GAA to 2.45 with four shutouts in thirty-two games, before being promoted to Swedish Elitserien, the top level of Swedish hockey, with Sodertalje SK. In 15 games with Sodertalje, Karlsson allowed only thirty-three goals. He was on the move again for the 2009-2010 season, playing for Farjestads BK Karlstad in the Elitserien, making thirty-four appearance while allowing a 2.45 GAA. Karlsson then signed a one year contract with the Calgary Flames of the NHL after being traded from the San Jose Sharks. With a big-league role in mind, Karlsson was able to avoid the KHL of eastern Europe. During the 2010-2011 season, Karlsson made seventeen appearances, of which eleven were starts, and posted a 2.58 GAA with a 4-5-0 record and a .908 save percentage. His moderate success was not replicated in 2011-2012, and Karlsson struggled in his nine appearances for the Flames, to the tune of a 1-4-0 record and a 3.17 GAA during the season. He also appeared in four games for the Flames' AHL affiliate, the Abbotsford Heat, with a 2.26 GAA and a 2-2-0 record. However, because of a midseason injury to his MCL and a lack of success, the Flames determined Karlsson was expendable, and at the end of the 2012-2013 lockout, Karlsson was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks for a seventh round draft pick. Karlsson did not play in any games for Blackhawks during their Stanley Cup run, sitting at third on the depth chart behind Corey Crawford and Ray Emery, but he did play for their AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs.
No comments :
Post a Comment