In a somber moment, Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson expressed his disappointment following the team's final morning skate of the season. With a frown replacing his customary smile, Karlsson lamented the fact that it had been five years since he last participated in the NHL playoffs. However, his hopes of resuscitating the fading Penguins and returning to the postseason were not fulfilled this year.

Karlsson, who was traded to Pittsburgh last season, remains fond of the city and organization despite the bitter disappointment of the past six months. Expressing his attachment to Pittsburgh, he acknowledged that the season did not go as planned but remains optimistic for the team's future.

The Penguins' power play struggles emerged as a major issue this season. Ranking last in the league with a 14.6% conversion rate, the team has also allowed a league-leading 12 shorthanded goals. Karlsson himself admitted that the power play woes were a collective failure and expressed frustration over the team's underachievement.

While Karlsson had a decent offensive season with 11 goals and 55 points, it fell short of his previous accomplishments. His defensive lapses were notable, but given the talent surrounding him, it perplexed many why the Penguins couldn't capitalize on their offensive potential and secure a playoff berth.

Looking ahead to the future, Karlsson expressed his desire for the team to remain intact and be given another chance. With the restrictions imposed by no-movement clauses in the locker room, the team's roster may not see significant changes. Karlsson hopes that they can learn from this season's struggles and start the next season with an improved power play.

As the Penguins face their last game of the season against the playoff-bound New York Islanders, netminder Alex Nedeljkovic will start for the 13th consecutive game. Forward Emil Bemstrom will not be available for the game, according to coach Mike Sullivan. Additionally, Evgeni Malkin enters the final game of the season three goals away from reaching the impressive milestone of 500 career goals.

Looking beyond the NHL season, Karlsson remains uncertain about representing Team Sweden in the upcoming World Championships in Prague.

Despite the disappointment, Karlsson is hopeful that with another chance, the team can show their true potential. As he reflects on the ups and downs of the season, Karlsson remains determined to prove that the Penguins are capable of achieving much more.

This news article was written by Josh Yohe, a senior writer for The Athletic covering the Pittsburgh Penguins.