Penguins notebook: Erik Karlsson, Marcus Pettersson working to build on-ice bond

A potential defensive pairing of Erik Karlsson and Marcus Pettersson presents the Pittsburgh Penguins with several advantages.

Pettersson, whose game gears toward steady, defensive responsibility, seems like a natural complement to the style of Karlsson, which is largely defined by moving the puck into the opposition’s zone and generating offense.

But for starters, Karlsson and Pettersson will need to ensure they’re communicating in the same language when skating together.

Karlsson, a native of Landsbro, Sweden, and Pettersson, who hails from Skelleftea, Sweden, have spent the majority of training camp paired up.

“It’s a little bit confusing sometimes because I like to speak English a lot and he speaks in Swedish sometimes — gonna have to get used to that again, having a Swedish partner — but it’s been great,” Karlsson joked.

Nothing is set in stone, but the work Karlsson and Pettersson have put in together suggests they’ll pair up in the regular season.

Last year, Pettersson was plus-4, second-best among the Penguins blue-liners.

Karlsson spent last season with the San Jose Sharks, becoming the first defenseman to record 100 points (101) since 1991-92, helping earn him the Norris Trophy.

Once they can settle on a language, Karlsson and Pettersson could emerge as an elite duo.

“He’s obviously a good hockey player, has been for awhile. He’s got good control of the puck and knows how to play the game,” Karlsson said. “He has his identity. So, hopefully we can find a way right away to play off each other and get the most out of each other when we’re on the ice at the same time.”

Pettersson also suggested he can contribute more offensively. He scored just one goal last season and has never managed more than two in his seven-year NHL career, but the 27-year-old did set a career high in assists (23) and points (24) last season.

“It’s going to take a little time to get adjusted, but yeah, he’s a great player,” Pettersson said of Karlsson. “Every time I can complement him and follow him up on the rush, too. I don’t think we should be as easy to read as he’s always the one on the rush.”

Lineup vs. Buffalo announced

The fourth of the Penguins’ preseason games, set for 7 p.m. Thursday at PPG Paints Arena vs. Buffalo, will be notably different than the first three.

The Penguins have produced lineups comprised largely of prospects and players vying for roster spots, but Thursday will feature primarily seasoned NHLers, with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Erik Karlsson, Tristan Jarry and several others making their preseason debuts. The team announced who will play:

Forwards — Drew O’Connor, Alex Nylander, Bryan Rust, Reilly Smith, Lars Eller, Austin Wagner, Noel Acciari, Radim Zohorna, Rickard Rakell, Malkin, Jeff Carter, Matt Nieto, Crosby.

Defensemen — Chad Ruhwedel, Ryan Shea, Ryan Graves, Marcus Pettersson, Mark Friedman, Letang, Karlsson, P.O Joseph.

Goaltenders — Jarry, Alex Nedeljkovic.

Sullivan challenges Friedman

At this point in his career, Mark Friedman’s toughness is not up for debate.

In parts of three seasons with the Penguins, Friedman has specialized as an agitator, bringing a much-needed physical presence.

“I’m not the biggest guy, so I gotta make up for it somehow,” he said. “That’s trying to be as big as I can, trying to use my feet to bring that physicality and not be a fun guy to play against.”

Friedman has demonstrated his trademark grit this preseason, as evidenced by the shiner under his left eye — the result of taking a puck to the face in the first of Sunday’s split-squad games against Columbus — that required stitches.

Two nights later, he suited up and logged 20 minutes, 3 seconds of ice time at Detroit.

Friedman has left little doubt as to his willingness to put his body on the line, but the same could not be said of whether he deserves a full-time role with the Penguins.

His previous three seasons with the Penguins have featured a plethora of transactions between Pittsburgh and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, with Friedman splitting time between the NHL and American Hockey League.

Friedman was also placed on waivers three times in 2022-23, when he played 23 games for Pittsburgh and 24 for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

After practice Wednesday in Cranberry, coach Mike Sullivan laid out how Friedman can expand his role with the Penguins.

“He needs to be a really good defender,” Sullivan said. “I think he needs to defend well. I think he needs to defend rushes early, manage his gaps, don’t give up the blue line. He’s a really good skater — that’s one of his strengths. He’s got to utilize that to his advantage.”

As Friedman continues to compete for a roster spot with several other defensemen, such as Libor Hajek, P.O Joseph, Chad Ruhwedel and Ty Smith, he understands nothing is a given.

“Every year for me, I’m trying to make the team,” Friedman said. “That’s how I look at it. I never take a day for granted here, and I always got to come to the rink with the right mindset. … I just think that every year for me, I’ve always got to come in and prove myself.”

Yager assigned to WHL

The Penguins assigned their 2023 first-round draft pick, Brayden Yager, to the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League.

Yager, 18, had suited up in two of the Penguins’ first three preseason games.

He logged 19 minutes Sunday against the Sabres, recording a pair of shots, and saw 12:28 of action and had one shot Tuesday against Detroit.

After beginning the preseason with 58 players, the Penguins are down to 46.