Karlsson talks future with Sharks, Norris race in Q&A with NHL.com

In NHL.com's Q&A feature called "Sitting Down with …" we talk to key figures in the game, gaining insight into their lives on and off the ice. Today, in a 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend edition of SDW, we feature San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Erik Karlsson says his No. 1 priority right now "is winning."
Whether that happens with the Sharks remains to be seen.
San Jose (15-25-11) is seventh in the Pacific Division, 16 points behind the Colorado Avalanche for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference. The Sharks are in the midst of a rebuild, which certainly will test Karlsson's patience.
To that end, the 32-year-old defenseman said Wednesday he has yet to have any serious discussions with Sharks management regarding trade possibilities despite hearing his name in rumors leading into the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline on March 3.
"I was just peppered with questions about my future at All-Star Media Day today and I don't have any answers right now," Karlsson said. "There haven't been any talks with San Jose about trades, anything.
"I want to win more than anything else. I hope it's in San Jose but we'll see."
Karlsson leads all NHL defensemen with 66 points (16 goals, 50 assists) in 51 games and is among the leading candidates for the Norris Trophy, awarded to the League's most outstanding defenseman.
Karlsson has a no-trade clause in the eight-year contract he signed with the Sharks on June 17, 2019 so he has the ultimate say in where he goes should a trade partner be found. For his part, San Jose general manager Mike Grier said during the GM meetings on Nov. 18 in Toronto that he would listen to offers for Karlsson but "a lot will depend on Erik too."
Karlsson took time once his Media Day obligations were completed to sit down with NHL.com.
Your future definitely was one of the major topics at NHL All-Star Media Day today. So let's get it out of the way: Where do things stand?
"I don't know. I just don't know. Again, I keep getting asked questions that I can't really answer. Like I told you, I want to win. I think that's been pretty clear throughout the whole thing. That's my No. 1 objective for playing this sport. And like I've said before, I hope I get that chance in San Jose. And if it's not there, then you know, who knows? So we'll see what happens."
The Sharks seem to be a ways away from challenging for a Stanley Cup. How patient are you willing to be?
"Those are the things that I can't control. Again, we haven't really had any discussions to that end. So, whenever those questions really get asked from the people that make those decisions, then we'll see where I'm at and what my stance will be. But honestly, as of right now, I'm not really too focused about that. I enjoy where I'm at. My family's happy, and like I've said before, I like the way that the direction of the organization is going. That's all I can really focus on, realistically."
While the Sharks have never released the specifics of your contract, there have been various reports suggesting it carries an average annual value of $11.5 million over its duration. Let's just agree on the fact that it's a very lucrative one. Does that make it more difficult to move you, given that so many teams are pushed up against the salary cap and would have difficulty absorbing your deal?
"Of course it does. When I signed that deal, it was different times. And then COVID happened, resulting in a flat cap. It's easy to say now that it is what it is and 'you shouldn't have done this or that,' but at that time, no one knew that, right? It has changed things and has complicated things a little bit, not only for myself but for everybody. Every team pretty much has a tough financial situation to try and fill out the rosters with the quality players that they want. That's just the way it is. And it's the same for everybody. In a way it's unfortunate but at the same time it's not something that anyone could have predicted or, or planned for because you know, the whole world got shocked by the pandemic."
You've had a rash of injuries the past five or six years. Do you finally feel healthy again?
"Definitely. And neither of the things that I've dealt with in the past like my ankle have really been aggravating me or hindering me in any way. Finally things are starting to fall back together into place again. So, I just hope that I don't run into any more obstacles in the future. But again, those are things that you can't control. That's just the nature of the sport and unfortunately, most guys have to go through them. Healthwise, I'm happy where I'm at right now. And I don't see that anything that I do will slow me down in any near future."
You already have won the Norris Trophy twice, in 2012 and 2015. To what do you attribute your elite play this season that has left you with a shot to win a third?
"It's hard to say. From a points perspective, scoring in general is up everywhere. You know, I remember in 2015 Jamie Benn won the scoring title with just 87 points. Now more and more guys are cracking the 100-point mark. So, it goes in ebbs and flows. I think right now there's a lot more scoring in the League, which means that guys are going to put up more points. I've just been fortunate enough to be able to keep pace with that."