Has Cale Makar already surpassed a prime Erik Karlsson in just his first 4 years?

[Foppberg]

Yes.

 

[x Tame Impala]

Yes and his 2nd Norris best season will seal the deal completely for even the most homer of EK fans

 

[not a troll]

Yes, but at least Ottawa still has #50in07.

 

[DanyHeatley]

Yes, but at least Ottawa still has #50in07.

Don’t be saying things here you wouldn’t say to my face. It’s 50in06 and 50in07 #back2back

 

[HuskyBruinPride]

Makar has now done something only true generational dmen has done. Norris, cup and Conn Smythe in the same year. The others were Orr and Lidstrom. Karlsson has been left in the dust.

Yup. If Makar stays healthy we're are truly going to be witnessing something special. The Orr comparisons really are realistic it seems.

 

[tucker3434]

Some of the takes in this thread aged out in less than a week.

 

[Quid Pro Clowe]

Some of the takes in this thread aged out in less than a week.

Makar’s team winning the cup doesn’t change the fact he hasn’t had a sustained peak like Karlsson did. Great season and cup run, though, and he deserves his award. Comparable to what Karlsson did in 2016 to drag an overall not-so-good Sens team to game 7 ot of the ecf.

 

[tucker3434]

Makar’s team winning the cup doesn’t change the fact he hasn’t had a sustained peak like Karlsson did. Great season and cup run, though, and he deserves his award. Comparable to what Karlsson did in 2016 to drag an overall not-so-good Sens team to game 7 ot of the ecf.

Makar winning the Conn Smythe does. Norris doesn't hurt either since people were saying that he needed one of those before the conversation could begin.

 

[edog37]

Karlsson was the best player in the league at one point, Makar is not there yet.

Karlsson was never the best player in the league at any point, but he was the best defensemen. That said, Makar is clearly the best player in the league right now & is far better than Karlsson was.

Makar winning the Conn Smythe does. Norris doesn't hurt either since people were saying that he needed one of those before the conversation could begin.

Makar joins only Bobby Orr & Lidstrom in doing that. That's impressive company.

 

[Sergei Shirokov]

Hard argument to make at this time but I'm saying not quite yet.

Accolades are in Cale's favour but Karlsson just reached such a high level as an individual force.

Karlsson drove the Senators practically by himself, once he lost his form they literally went from ECF to lottery team.

At the very least I think there's a good argument both ways.

Karlsson was never the best player in the league at any point, but he was the best defensemen. That said, Makar is clearly the best player in the league right now & is far better than Karlsson was.


Makar joins only Bobby Orr & Lidstrom in doing that. That's impressive company.

McDavid retired?

 

[Jee]

Not even debatable, a fat yes lol

 

[Sureves]

As Karlsson’s biggest fan, yes he has.

Karlsson still had aspects of his game that Makar hasn’t touched but overall? Ya Makar is better, but anyone who doesn’t think it’s close is out to lunch.

 

[Adrianopolous]

Karlsson still better IMO.

 

[Dr Amazing]

Yes Makar is clearly better he won a cup Karlsson won nothing

 

[OKR]

Karlsson was never the best player in the league at any point, but he was the best defensemen. That said, Makar is clearly the best player in the league right now & is far better than Karlsson was.


Makar joins only Bobby Orr & Lidstrom in doing that. That's impressive company.

Bolded are all false.

 

[didimentionlarseller]

Karlsson was never the best player in the league at any point, but he was the best defensemen. That said, Makar is clearly the best player in the league right now & is far better than Karlsson was.


Makar joins only Bobby Orr & Lidstrom in doing that. That's impressive company.

I disagree about Karlsson ever being the best defensemen in the league

 

[Erik Alfredsson]

Karlsson was never the best player in the league at any point, but he was the best defensemen. That said, Makar is clearly the best player in the league right now & is far better than Karlsson was.


Makar joins only Bobby Orr & Lidstrom in doing that. That's impressive company.

If your argument for Makar being better than Karlsson stems from Makar joining Orr and Lidstrom for the only defenseman to win those two awards in the same season, then why don't you also have the same appreciation for Karlsson leading the league in assists, which is something that only Orr and Karlsson have done as defensemen.

 

[Erik Alfredsson]

Makar winning the Conn Smythe does. Norris doesn't hurt either since people were saying that he needed one of those before the conversation could begin.

I really don't see what a Conn Smythe changes, Karlsson had a Smythe worthy performance in 2017, and there's a good chance he would've been awarded it even if Nashville beat Ottawa in the finals. If there's an argument to be made that Makar is better, it really doesn't have much to do with his Norris and Conn Smythe.

 

[TH1Pool]

From my perspective - not a fan of either players’ team(s) - Karlsson was amazing in his prime - but I’ve never seen a Defensemen, let alone many hall of fame forwards, control the game when he is on the ice the way Makar does.

 

[tucker3434]

I really don't see what a Conn Smythe changes, Karlsson had a Smythe worthy performance in 2017, and there's a good chance he would've been awarded it even if Nashville beat Ottawa in the finals. If there's an argument to be made that Makar is better, it really doesn't have much to do with his Norris and Conn Smythe.

It’s mostly that there were people very recently bringing up Makar’s lack of hardware and that changed from advantage->Karlsson to advantage->Makar in a hurry.

 

[Crossfire Hurricane]

He won his Smythe because of what he did in the first three rounds. He was rather disappointing in the finals. Either way it doesn’t really change anything.

The elite players on both teams looked like ass for long stretches, which tends to happen when you're playing against other elite players. Sometimes, a Kucherov is just going to embarrass you.

 

[Quid Pro Clowe]

Makar winning the Conn Smythe does. Norris doesn't hurt either since people were saying that he needed one of those before the conversation could begin.

Yeah, but Karlsson also has one of those if his team wasn’t so bad that year.

 

[DFF]

Why the rush? If you are a fan of Makar, sit back and enjoy the inevitable …..this guy is not in his prime age yet lol

 

[Crossfire Hurricane]

Yeah, but Karlsson also has one of those if his team wasn’t so bad that year.

And if Makar doesn't get hurt last year, he has two Norris trophies in his first three years. If Kadri doesn't get suspended and the Avs get better goaltending, he might have another Cup and Conn Smythe. Or three Cups and three Conn Smythes if the Avs aren't playing their third goalie in game 7 OT against Dallas.

So Makar is clearly ahead in hypotheticals.

 

[TheBeard]

The elite players on both teams looked like ass for long stretches, which tends to happen when you're playing against other elite players. Sometimes, a Kucherov is just going to embarrass you.

I think Makar is good, but he was exploited against TB in that he’s not quite at that level… yet. He’ll probably get there but these finals, Smythe or not, was a bit of a reality check for him. Smart teams keep books on players so unless he learns from his mistakes (probable) his occasional poor defensive lapses will happen more and more often

And if Makar doesn't get hurt last year, he has two Norris trophies in his first three years. If Kadri doesn't get suspended and the Avs get better goaltending, he might have another Cup and Conn Smythe. Or three Cups and three Conn Smythes if the Avs aren't playing their third goalie in game 7 OT against Dallas.

So Makar is clearly ahead in hypotheticals.

This is just dumb.