Defenseman Erik Karlsson will play his first regular-season game for the San Jose Sharks when they open the regular season against the Anaheim Ducks at SAP Center on Wednesday.
Karlsson, a two-time Norris Trophy winner (2012, 2015), was acquired by the Sharks in a trade from the Ottawa Senators on Sept. 13. He will be in a lineup that includes Brent Burns, who won the Norris Trophy in 2017. San Jose will become the ninth team in NHL history to have multiple Norris Trophy-winning defensemen in its lineup and first since the Anaheim Ducks (2006-07 to 2008-09) with Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger.
San Jose will face Anaheim for the first time since completing a four-game sweep in the Western Conference First Round at SAP Center on April 18.
The Ducks will be without four injured forwards, Corey Perry (knee), Ryan Kesler (hip), Patrick Eaves (shoulder) and Ondrej Kase (concussion), as well as Nick Ritchie, an unsigned restricted free agent.
Rookie Troy Terry, who has played two NHL games, will start in Perry's spot at right wing on the first line. Rookie forwards Max Comtois, Sam Steel and Kiefer Sherwood each is expected to make his NHL debut.
