Former Red Wings Player Patches up Differences With Penguins Star

There’s been a lot of bad blood between the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins since the teams clashed in successive Stanley Cup final series in 2008 and 2009. So perhaps Red Wings fans took a little delight in ex-Red Wings forward Johan Garpenlov’s criticism of Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson.

Earlier this season, Garpenlov, in his role as a TV hockey analyst in Sweden, was blasting his country’s national team for selecting Karlsson to play in the 4 Nations Face-Off.

“I think his shortcomings in the defensive game are too big in a short tournament like this,” Garpenlov said at the time. “Because every match will be so important and then you can’t afford to make these bigger mistakes that unfortunately Erik Karlsson is now making.”

That Sam Hallam, the Swedish coach who made Karlsson’s selection to the team, was the man replacing Garpenlov as Swedish national team coach only was adding fuel to the fire of this controversy.

Erik Karlsson och Johan Garpelöv fick till slut krama ut det i Montreal! pic.twitter.com/A7wgjpojEM

— Andreas III Johnsson (@Johnssonen) February 14, 2025

Fast forward to Friday. Both men are at the 4 Nations Face-Off. Karlsson is playing for Sweden. Garpenlov is working as a TV analyst. All eyes were on the two men as they made a move toward each other – and hugged in a warm embrace.

Former Red Wings Player Stands By What He Said

Garpenlov, though, was quick to point on that he stands by his original statement regarding Karlsson, a player he once coached.

“That’s not how it works,” Garpenlov told Swedish website Expressen. “I stand by what I said, but I can also praise a player and say when he has had a good match.

“I hope all the Swedish players here are doing well, including Erik, I want Tre Kronor to win.”

Karlsson insisted that there was no hard feelings on his part.

From @DominosCanada That's Hockey: Peter Forsberg on how big a role William Nylander can play at the 4 Nations Face-Off, former 🇸🇪 coach Johan Garpenlov’s criticism of Erik Karlsson, and if Elias Pettersson can have a breakout moment: https://t.co/eWqUrs9nxK#DominosThatsHockey pic.twitter.com/Jl4dBLSNps

— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) November 16, 2024

“My old friend, ‘Garpen’, who went out and sawed me off,” Karlsson said. “I’ve been around long enough to buy it. I’ve been on both sides, when things have gone better and not so well. It can swing quickly and is not something that moves my spine.

“I focus on what I can do and what I can’t do you have to laugh a little about.”

Garpenlov was echoing those sentiments.

“It’s always fun to meet Erik Karlsson,” Garpenlov said. “He’s a nice person,

“I think both he and I understand what we’re doing and we can separate the professional and the private life. There’s a work life and then there’s a private life.”