"In all the meetings we've had, he's been a big part of the discussions, and I think he's been taking charge in a lot of things on the ice and off the ice," Gronborg said. "He wants to be there. He wants to be the go-to guy. He also has the respect in the locker room that is required to be a leader on a team."
Karlsson officially was stamped as a leader for Team Sweden on Monday, when he was named an alternate captain along with Vancouver Canucks left wing Daniel Sedin. Canucks captain Henrik Sedin was named Sweden's captain, taking the role from injured Detroit Red Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg.
For Karlsson, it will be the first time wearing a letter while representing Sweden in an international tournament. He called it "a big honor," which it obviously is. He also called it a challenge, which he loves.
"It's something I see as a challenge, to be better and do more, to want to be a better person and player," he said.
He's been conquering that challenge incrementally with each passing season. Former Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson, a mentor to Karlsson and now an adviser to Team Sweden, has been witness to it and continues to be impressed.
"To me, he's done a very good job of maturing to be more responsible and wanting to have that role while also keeping his energy and enthusiasm, which I think is what makes him fun to be around in the locker room or just off the ice," Alfredsson said. "He has a great personality, brings energy to wherever he goes. He's always been very comfortable, but he's getting better and better and better in dealing with the team and getting everybody on the same page."
As Gronborg said, Karlsson has been doing that off the ice for Team Sweden. He also proved he can lead by example through his offseason training.
Typically one to focus on strength training during the summer, Karlsson changed his program to do more on-ice conditioning.
