Erik Karlsson could make his debut for Jokerit on Saturday. The team expects him to play but he plans to make the call after heading out there on Friday. Karlsson was initially reluctant to play overseas, but he decided he wanted to be better prepared for when NHL action starts up again. "His priority would have been to stay here and skate with his teammates, and yet as that continued on, some players left the group and Erik felt that, in order to be best prepared, he was going to need to push himself a little bit harder and play at a higher level," said his agent Craig Oster. "We all felt really comfortable that Jokerit presented a great opportunity for Erik to go and work hard and play at a high level of hockey." Playing with former Ottawa teammate and friend Jarkko Ruutu as well as having his insurance costs covered were also nice bonuses for the 2011-12 Norris Trophy winner.