CRANBERRY, Pa. -- Erik Karlsson wants to win at the highest level.

That seems obvious. It’s always been true.

But at 35 years old, it feels more urgent for the Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman.

The Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 is key. Karlsson expects to be there with Sweden.

“I'm aiming to play in the Olympics. As of right now, I think I'm a lock on that team,” Karlsson said on Thursday. “I still have to prove myself and show them I can still play at a very high level. I think I've done that up until now, but now I've got to continue that.”

Karlsson wasn’t among the first six players announced for Team Sweden on June 16. They were forwards Adrian Kempe , Gabriel Landeskog , Lucas Raymond and William Nylander , and defensemen Victor Hedman and Rasmus Dahlin .

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