NEWARK, N.J. — It’s worth digging into some of Erik Karlsson’s comments that have gained traction on social media after the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 2-1 shootout loss to the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.

After the game — the Penguins played well despite the loss — I asked the star defenseman if he is starting to believe in his team, even though people around the NHL had low expectations for the Penguins entering the season.

This was the direction he took the question: “We have good individual players. And now we’re finally starting to feel good as a team. The roles are starting to slot in. You know what’s expected of you. You do the things you’re good at, and not the things that someone tells you to do that you can’t do.”

Was that a shot at former Penguins coach Mike Sullivan and his staff? It certainly came across that way. Karlsson never mentioned Sullivan or anyone from his former staff by name. He didn’t mention new Penguins coach Dan Muse or his staff, either. But he said what he said.

It’s clear Karlsson didn’t see eye to eye with Sullivan and his staff. This isn’t the first time he’s voiced it, either. You might recall a comment he made nearly two years ago during his first season in Pittsburgh.

The Penguins had just lost an overtime game in Raleigh, N.C., and Karlsson was asked about the Penguins’ three-on-three troubles.

“I have my theories, but I’ll keep it to myself,” he said then.

A few minutes after those comments, a Penguins employee asked to hear the recording of what Karlsson said. That person passed along the comment to Sullivan, who was not particularly amused by it.

So, clearly, Karlsson isn’t afraid to say what’s on his mind. And from what he’s saying now, he’s more comfortable and happy playing for Muse. Karlsson has been one of the NHL’s best defensemen through 20 percent of the season. He’s been the guy the Penguins thought they’d traded for in August 2023.

Some players, of course, will always be Sullivan believers. It’s no secret that Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang remain close with Sullivan and never wanted him to leave. The Big Three seem pleased with Muse, but they’re “Sully guys.” Karlsson is not.

Those differing opinions haven’t impacted Karlsson’s relationship with any member of the Big Three.

Crosby, Malkin and Letang love Karlsson. They seem to appreciate that he’s his own guy and that he marches to the beat of a different drummer. They accept him for who he is. From a hockey standpoint, his genius with the puck replicates theirs, so they liked playing with him from the start.

You may notice that, when Crosby scores goals, Karlsson often mimes as if he’s drawing a mustache on the captain’s face. This started two years ago, when Crosby started the season slowly. Then, in “Movember,” when much of the NHL grows mustaches to draw attention to various men’s health issues, Crosby got hot.

So, to this day, when they’re both on the ice and Crosby scores, Karlsson pretends to draw a mustache on Crosby’s face. That’s just one example of how Karlsson has fit into this locker room nicely.

Since acquiring Karlsson, the Penguins have faded. Although his play hasn’t been all that great over the past two seasons, he’s not viewed around the organization as a primary reason for the Penguins’ decline.

He is viewed as a primary reason why they’re so much better this season. Karlsson may view Sullivan differently from the other three future Hall of Famers in the Penguins’ lineup, but Karlsson, Crosby, Malkin and Letang are very much on the same page.

Letang leveling out

Letang started the season very poorly, then gradually improved. Though he was responsible for a couple of goals against over the weekend — his turnover against the Devils was so gruesome that it doesn’t require further discussion — there is a sense around the organization that his play is coming around.

He was so bad in the season’s first two weeks that a couple of people within the organization I spoke with were legitimately concerned. A few weeks later, while those people would like to see him play better, they feel he’s at least improved to a passable level.

Dubas’ internal reputation

I’ve written a lot about how impressed people around the Penguins organization seem to be with Muse. That’s still the case.

However, it’s worth noting that, compared to this time two years ago, Kyle Dubas seems to have many total believers in the organization. I don’t think anyone ever doubted how intelligent and committed the president/general manager was from the start. But it takes time to develop trust in a GM, especially a young one whose prior performance in Toronto was so polarizing.

From the coaching staff to the front office to the locker room, it seems there’s a unified belief that Dubas is guiding the Penguins in the right direction now and in the future. He’s winning everyone over.

Šilovs solid

You may have heard that the Penguins are very excited about Sergei Murashov. It’s true.

They’re also excited about Artūrs Šilovs, whom they believe will enjoy a long, successful NHL career. Many people I’ve spoken to around the organization believe in his talent and work ethic. They also believe his notable issues with shootouts will pass in time.

Has winning changed the Penguins’ trade plans?

During the summer, Karlsson, Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell were there to be had in a trade if an offer blew Dubas away. He wasn’t shopping them, but Crosby was the only player considered unavailable.

So, what now?

As long as the Penguins keep playing like they have been, I don’t see any of those players being traded. As long as they’re in the running for a playoff spot, I’d be surprised if Dubas unloaded any of them. I don’t think that was necessarily the plan entering the season, but plans can change. I don’t think Dubas would spoil an opportunity for Crosby to participate in the postseason again.

That doesn’t mean the Penguins will be big buyers at the deadline. That seems wildly unlikely. Dubas knows creating a roster that is a championship contender annually is his greater mission. He isn’t about to lose track of that. But I don’t think he’ll hurt their chances this season. It’s a delicate balance.

Let’s talk tanking

One thing has become clear to me in recent conversations: Dubas was never “tanking” this season. It’s not like this is out of the “Major League” playbook, where owner Rachel Phelps put together the worst team possible, only to see her fictional Cleveland baseball team reach the playoffs.

Dubas targeted players such as Parker Wotherspoon, Anthony Mantha and Justin Brazeau because he thought they could make the Penguins better immediately. He was right. He often uses the word “urgent” when expressing his desire to see the Penguins become a contender as quickly as possible. People throughout the organization are taking him at his word.

Brunicke’s future

We soon will find out about Harrison Brunicke’s future for the remainder of the season. The 19-year-old defenseman hasn’t played in a week after three consecutive poor showings. If he plays one more game, his entry-level contract kicks in and he’ll stay in the NHL this season. Otherwise, the Penguins will need to return him to the Kamloops Blazers, his WHL team, for the rest of the season.

Some people I’ve spoken to in the organization want Brunicke to stay in Pittsburgh, believing that working with Muse and the coaching staff while playing sporadically is the best thing for his future development. Others think he needs to play every game in the WHL, and that perhaps next season he’ll be ready for regular NHL action.

We’ll find out soon enough what the Penguins intend to do with the 2024 second-round pick. I can assure you that the initial plan when this season began was to keep him in the NHL all season. Those plans didn’t change after his first handful of games, which produced excellent performances. However, his play has dropped so drastically in recent games that the Penguins are now considering whether to send him back.

The Penguins haven’t lost any faith in Brunicke. He simply hasn’t looked ready for NHL action recently.

Off to Sweden

The Penguins are hitting Sweden all week, arriving on Tuesday morning in Stockholm and practicing shortly after. The injured Rakell, who is Swedish, is making the trip. Eyes will be on Karlsson, a fellow Swede, but even more eyes will be on Crosby, as NHL officials have told me that fans in Sweden are preparing to give him Beatles treatment.

It should be quite a week. I’ll be on hand to provide coverage.