Erik Karlsson Vs Paul Coffey

[yzerman]

Ok it seems that Karlsson has defeated Leetch in the other poll.

This time he is up against Paul Coffey same question which defenceman do you Think is/was the best one?

Could be difficult to compare two players from different time ages and Karlsson never going to come up to Coffeys Point total in obvious reasons ,but you out there that know both players can certainly speak to the one's advantage.

Click to read more...

 

[MMANumminen]

Similar players. Edge Coffey for far greater accomplisments

 

[Karl Eriksson]

Karlsson. My brother in law bought a Kia from Paul Coffey Kia in Bolton, and it was a lemon.

 

[Albatros]

Coffey, but not by much. If Karlsson would have comparable achievements he might even be ahead.

 

[Sureves]

Coffey put up more points than Karlsson, but honestly he didn't play the position of defense. He truly was a rover. Karlsson plays a fairly traditional style of defense and thus brings more to the table on the defensive side than Coffey and still brings a comparable level of offence when you factor in era.

Karlsson.

 

[amnesiac]

Coffey now, Karlsson later

 

[Mbraunm]

Coffey for now. Possibly Karlsson in the future.

 

[VoluntaryDom]

Coffey put up more points than Karlsson, but honestly he didn't play the position of defense. He truly was a rover. Karlsson plays a fairly traditional style of defense and thus brings more to the table on the defensive side than Coffey and still brings a comparable level of offence when you factor in era.

Karlsson.

oh the irony, a Karlsson fan saying someone doesn't play defenseman. (I disagree with the notion that EK is a forward, but come on, Coffey wasn't one either)

anyway, the answer is Coffey.

 

[Sureves]

oh the irony, a Karlsson fan saying someone doesn't play defenseman. (I disagree with the notion that EK is a forward, but come on, Coffey wasn't one either)

anyway, the answer is Coffey.

I think the irony is some people voting Coffey when they are the same ones who talk about how Karlsson is not as good defensively as Defenseman X and therefore Defenseman X is better (or at least it's close). Like you for example and your comments that Hedman is better than Karlsson.

Anyways, I've seen you mention before that you're 15 years old so I know for a fact you have not seen any of Coffey's games so your opinion doesn't hold a lot of weight to me in this discussion.

 

[Craig Button]

Karlsson. My brother in law bought a Kia from Paul Coffey Kia in Bolton, and it was a lemon.

That's because it was a Kia

 

[VoluntaryDom]

I think the irony is some people voting Coffey when they are the same ones who talk about how Karlsson is not as good defensively as Defenseman X and therefore Defenseman X is better (or at least it's close). Like you for example and your comments that Hedman is better than Karlsson.

Anyways, I've seen you mention before that you're 15 years old so I know for a fact you have not seen any of Coffey's games so your opinion doesn't hold a lot of weight to me in this discussion.

Karlsson is good defensively but you are comparing him to Hedman, one of the best defensive dmen in the NHL.

Anyway, no I have not watched Coffey, but I have gotten opinions from many people who were fans when he played.

 

[Filatov2Kovalev2Bonk]

Karlsson better defensively and pretty close, if not better, offensively.
Coffey for skating in size 3 skates though.

 

[armani]

Erik Karlsson, a better two-way player.

 

[Agent Zub]

Karlsson is basically Coffey but with a much better defensive game.

 

[Agent Zub]

Karlsson is good defensively but you are comparing him to Hedman, one of the best defensive dmen in the NHL.

Anyway, no I have not watched Coffey, but I have gotten opinions from many people who were fans when he played.

The defensive difference between Hedman and Karlsson really isn't that much. Just look what happens when they play on the same team. (Karlsson shows himself to be quite clearly the better all-around player)

 

[Micklebot]

It's so difficult to identify how much of an impact Coffey playing his prime years with 2 of the greatest offensive players of all time, and then go about comparing the two on even ground. Having said that, I have a hard time believing the combination of era a generational centers gave Coffey an ~80% boost in offense relative to Karlsson.

Coffey was my favourite player growing up, and I'll go with him until Karlsson can prove me otherwise, but I do agree with those saying that Karlsson is superior defensively.

 

[bathdog]

Coffey now, Karlsson later

Coffey for now. Possibly Karlsson in the future.

This, probably.

 

[BraveCanadian]

Neither one of them is known for their defense but instead their skating, puck control, breakout ability etc.. (although both have shown an ability to step up their defensive game at times).

Coffey is #2 all time to Orr in those things. During his prime he is like an amped up Karlsson.

Coffey.

 

[Fugazy]

Karlsson.

 

[authentic]

Karlsson.

 

[armani]

Nostalgia, 80s stats, or what not to pick Coffey easily by some - I have seen both players play in their prime. Head to head, they are on par in offence, though his team's offence (not necessarily just stats) runs through Karlsson as the main guy compared to Coffey who was part of the supporting cast on dynasties most of his prime.

Defensively, Karlsson is a better player. Burns' style of play is more comparable to Coffey's.

Karlsson is the superior 2-way player and my pick.

 

[Felidae]

Here's a comparison between the two (Coffey's accomplishments at Karlssons current age)

Bolded are players they finished ahead of in norris, hart, point finishes etc


Erik Karlsson

Norris finishes: 1, 1, 2, 2, 7, 18

Norris competition
2011-12: Weber, Chara, Pietrangelo, Lidstrom, Girardi
2014-15: Doughty, Subban, Weber, Josi, Giordano
2015-16: Doughty, Burns, Letang, Josi, Klingberg
2016-17: Burns, Hedman, Keith, Suter, Weber

Hart finishes: 5, 8, 9, 9

Hart competition
2016-17: McDavid, Crosby, Bobrovsky, Burns, Kane


Points
2011-12 NHL 78 (10th)
2015-16 NHL 82 (4th) Kane, Benn, Crosby, Thornton, Wheeler

PPG
2015-16 NHL 1.00 (6th)

Assists
2011-12 NHL 59 (3rd)
2013-14 NHL 54 (7th)
2015-16 NHL 66 (1st)
2016-17 NHL 54 (6th)

APG
2011-12 NHL 0.73 (4th)
2015-16 NHL 0.80 (1st)
2016-17 NHL 0.70 (5th)




Paul Coffey

Norris finishes: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 5, 7

Norris competition
1981-82: Wilson, Bourque, Hartsburg, Robinson, Engblom
1982-83: Langway, Howe, Bourque, Wilson, Huddy
1983-84: Langway, Bourque, Potvin, Housley, Stevens
1984-85: Bourque, Langway, Wilson, Stevens, Howe
1985-86: Howe, Robinson, Bourque, Langway, Babych
1986-87: Bourque, Howe, Murphy, Robinson, MacInnis

Hart finishes: 4, 10, 15

Hart competition: Gretzky, Lemieux, Howe, Vanbiesbrouck, Bossy


Points
1983-84 NHL 126 (2nd) Gretzky, Goulet, Stastny, Bossy, Pederson
1984-85 NHL 121 (5th) Gretzky, Kurri, Hawerchuk, Dionne, Bossy
1985-86 NHL 138 (3rd) Gretzky, Lemieux, Kurri, Bossy, Stastny

PPG
1983-84 NHL 1.57 (6th)
1984-85 NHL 1.51 (6th)
1985-86 NHL 1.75 (3rd)
1987-88 NHL 1.46 (7th)

Assists
1982-83 NHL 67 (4th)
1983-84 NHL 86 (2nd)
1984-85 NHL 84 (2nd)
1985-86 NHL 90 (3rd)

APG

1982-83 NHL 0.84 (4th)
1983-84 NHL 1.07 (2nd)
1984-85 NHL 1.05 (2nd)
1985-86 NHL 1.14 (3rd)
1986-87 NHL 0.85 (4th)
1987-88 NHL 1.13 (3rd)


A few thoughts of my own

Despite being in the same team as Gretzky, Kurri and Messier, Coffey was still able to accumulate hart finishes, his best finish being higher than Karlssons best. One could argue that is negated by the fact that he played in the same line as Gretzky and Kurri thereby increasing his point totals. However, in his later years he may not have reached the same point totals, but his point finishes were still quite impressive ( 6. 6, 9)

 

[ManofSteel55]

Karlsson's defensive play is far better, and their offensive play was equally as impactual. Karlsson is my vote.

 

[NyQuil]

I'd go Coffey for now.

A lot will depend on how Karlsson plays in his 30s.

He can overtake him but he has to be healthy for a good long while.

I agree on Karlsson being the better defender but by the same token it's as unfair as highlighting point totals.

Both guys are products of their eras. Coffey really wasn't asked to play defensively while Karlsson had to given the number of minutes he plays in today's less forgiving game. Meanwhile, Coffey's numbers were sheer eye popping.

Roles and circumstances reversed I can see similar results.

So in that event you have to take the older guy until I feel EK has surpassed him in some way.

 

[SensNation613]

oh the irony, a Karlsson fan saying someone doesn't play defenseman. (I disagree with the notion that EK is a forward, but come on, Coffey wasn't one either)

anyway, the answer is Coffey.

As a teenager, I don't think you had the opportunity to watch Coffey play but maybe my math isn't adding up.