Skelleftea is situated in northern Sweden, near the east coast along the Gulf of Bothnia.
And it’s not exactly an easy place to get to.
One of its more notable residents, Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson, estimates it takes between 20 and 24 hours — spread out over two days — to get from Western Pennsylvania to his hometown.
It’s even tough for other Swedes to get there.
“(Bleep-lleftea!)” boomed Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson, utilizing a colorful metaphor one might associate with fertilizer.
“I can’t speak for him,” Pettersson said as his friend and defensive partner, a native of Landsbro, cackled at (and repeated) his own joke. “He’s a southerner.”
Yet despite all the logistical challenges of trekking to Skelleftea, a number of Pettersson’s teammates, including a handful from North America, found it important enough to venture there to attend their friend’s wedding this summer. Those who couldn’t attend sent videos that were displayed at the ceremony congratulating Pettersson and his bride, Beatrice.
“Everyone likes ‘Petey,’” said Penguins forward Drew O’Connor, a native of Chatham, N.J who made his way to Skelleftea in July. “Everyone gets along with him. He’s an easy guy to get along with. A leader of the locker room here.”
That standing with his co-workers comes partially through how long Pettersson has been a member of the club. The 28-year-old has the sixth-longest tenure with the Penguins, having arrived in Pittsburgh via a trade with the Anaheim Ducks in December of 2018.
Largely considered the team’s best defensive defenseman, Pettersson is somewhat gob-smacked over how long he has been with the Penguins and how much he has matured, on and off the ice.
“First, as a hockey player, my career took a step in a right direction coming here,” Pettersson said. “It was a boost coming here. As a human, I mean my kid — first-born — he was born here. I’ll always have that with me. He’ll always have that with him. His hometown, Pittsburgh. That’s always special. A lot of guys have their kids being born here and you form a special bond whenever you have that. I’ve become a father and a husband, everything I’ve done is here.
“It holds a special place in my heart.”
How much longer Pittsburgh will remain Pettersson’s place is anyone’s guess.
Pettersson is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after this season and all parties concerned have been discreet as to his future with the team.
Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas has a policy of not publicly commenting on potential contract negotiations, but he sung the praises of Pettersson during his season-opening media availability in Cranberry on Oct. 7.
“It’s ended up being an excellent trade (in 2018) for the Penguins because Marcus is really about what the Penguins are always about,” Dubas said. “He’s extraordinarily competitive. He’s gotten the absolute most out of himself here and developed into an extraordinary steady defenseman. He’s zero maintenance. He works his butt off every day. Great teammate that people love to be around. You never hear anything about him from my end other than you watch him on the ice. He makes stops, continues to evolve with his puck play.”
Throughout the 2023-24 season, Dubas offered similar commendations for All-Star forward Jake Guentzel, another popular presence in the team’s dressing room, then ultimately traded him by March 7 as the Penguins struggled to stay competitive.
Dubas, while vague, acknowledged a similar outcome could unfold with Pettersson, who is in the final year of a five-year contract with a salary cap hit of $4,025,175.
“For us, the key is to protect all of our options as we go through the year,” Dubas said. “Marcus is a key guy for us.”
Pettersson has largely declined to discuss the matter of his contractual status.
“No comment,” Pettersson said. “I feel like I’ve had a good (training) camp and I tried to stay focused on the on-ice (activity) and let everything fall into place. Whatever happens, happens. I’ve expressed that I love it here.
“When you get too worried about stuff off the ice, it kind of takes your mind off of being better each day. And I still think I have steps to take.”
That approach is largely why Pettersson is popular among his peers.
Featured Local Businesses
“So positive every single day,” Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said. “He works really hard. He cares a lot about all the guys and he cares a lot about his game and being a good teammate. He’s somebody that I’m sure every (defensive partner) loves to play with. He’s really reliable. He’s been great for us.”
Being part of the Penguins has worked out great for Pettersson.
“Looking back at it a few years ago, there was a lot of talk about me being traded and stuff like that,” Pettersson said. “Expansion (draft in 2021), everything. For sure, you’ve got to play the kind of hockey that you can stay in the same place and settle roots and compete with these guys.
“That’s what I want to do ultimately. I love it here.”
Follow the Penguins all season long.