Henrik Karlsson
| Henrik Karlsson | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Born |
November 27, 1983 , Sweden |
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| Height | 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) | ||
| Weight | 215 lb (98 kg; 15 st 5 lb) | ||
| Position | Goaltender | ||
| Catches | Left | ||
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KHL team Former teams |
Barys Astana Södertälje SK Färjestads BK Calgary Flames Skellefteå AIK Avangard Omsk Jokerit |
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| NHL Draft | Undrafted | ||
| Playing career | 2003–present | ||
Henrik Bjorn Karlsson (born November 27, 1983) is a Swedish professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for Barys Astana of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Earlier in his career, he has played for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL).
A player undrafted in the NHL, Karlsson spent the majority of the 2008–09 season in the HockeyAllsvenskan with the Malmö Redhawks, but appeared in seven games in the Elitserien with Södertälje. He was signed as a free agent by the San Jose Sharks prior to the 2009–10 season, but was returned to Sweden and took up starting duties with Färjestad. Karlsson appeared in 34 games, posting four shutouts and a 2.45 goals against average. He suffered an injury late in the season that prevented him from playing in the playoffs as Färjestad was eliminated in the first round. He finished fourth in the league save percentage and tied for second in shutouts.
Facing bleak prospects of playing with the Sharks in 2010–11, he contemplated signing with a team in the Kontinental Hockey League before his NHL rights were dealt by the Sharks to the Calgary Flames for a sixth round pick at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. The Flames quickly signed Karlsson to a new one-year contract, and was expected to compete for the backup role to starter Miikka Kiprusoff. He described the chance to play in the NHL as "a dream come true".
Karlsson made his NHL debut on October 22, 2010, a 6–2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. He became only the third goaltender in Flames' franchise history (after Jim Craig and Tyler Moss) to win his first game. He appeared in 17 games as the Flames' backup, finishing with a 4–5–6 record and a goals against average of 2.38. Following the season, he re-signed with the team, agreeing to a two-year deal worth $1.725 million. Karlsson struggled early in the 2011–12 NHL season, failing to win his first five decisions before suffering a torn medial collateral ligament in a game against the Vancouver Canucks on December 4 that caused him to miss two months of play. When he returned to action, he was often passed over for third goaltender Leland Irving when the team wanted to rest Kiprusoff, and consequently appeared in only nine games during the season. He started the final game of the year, a 5–2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. It was his only win of the season, and his first since January 21, 2011.
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