Is Erik Karlsson in fact the best Swedish player still?

[Midnight Judges]

Why doesn't Victor Hedman ever get any criticism at all for also being terrible at defense?

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I am skeptical of one-size-fits-all blended stats like GAR and WAR. Hockey contains too many factors.

But mainly, I've never seen Hedman make the terrible plays in his own end that Erik Karlsson routinely makes. Admittedly, I am heavily relying on video.

Hedman also isn't on the ice for nearly as many non-PP goals against as Karlsson. Hedman's career worst is 83. Karlsson's worst is 137. That is an enormous difference. Then when Karlsson was asked to play some semblance of responsible hockey in Pittsburgh the very next year, his points plummeted from 101 to 56 despite being surrounded by far better players.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Is he even top 5?

 

[MCR74]

No.

 

[Regal]

Why doesn't Victor Hedman ever get any criticism at all for also being terrible at defense?

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He’s definitely regressed but his numbers are a lot better with a competent partner the first part of the year (his numbers were way better in the 80 range before Moser went down), and McDonagh taking more of the matchup load

 

[MCR74]

Erik Karlsson is a disgrace to the defensive position.

 

[Hale The Villain]

Erik Karlsson is a disgrace to the defensive position.

He tried a blind pass because there was almost no time on the clock left.

Knies read the play well but Blomquist shouldn't be letting in a wrist shot from above the hashmarks. Was off his angle badly.

Dumb post.

 

[MCR74]

He tried a blind pass because there was almost no time on the clock left.

Knies read the play well but Blomquist shouldn't be letting in a wrist shot from above the hashmarks. Was off his angle badly.

Dumb post.

That was quick.

Always an excuse eh?

 

[Run the Gauntlet]

Whats interesting is that one minute into the third period he gives it away again and it leads to a 2 on 0 against the goalie.

 

[ijuka]

Erik Karlsson is a disgrace to the defensive position.

Few players would play defensively with an offensive faceoff with 5.7 seconds left. The play was terrible from an offensive standpoint, true, but literally no one is worrying about defense in that situation.

 

[MCR74]

Whats interesting is that one minute into the third period he gives it away again and it leads to a 2 on 0 against the goalie.

Sounds about right. Remember this beauty from Charlie McAvoy?

 

[Midnight Judges]

Erik Karlsson is a disgrace to the defensive position.

Yikes.

Pretty sure Karlsson got burned hard last year on that exact same mistake.

 

[10YearsHaveGone]

Hes the 3rd or 4th best swedish defensemen. Also a few forwards are better than him IMO.

Borderline top 5.

 

[paracord]

I'll tell you one thing.....He's WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY worse defensively than I ever thought an NHL defenseman could be.

I've watched him a lot since he got traded to the Pens, and never really did before. I can see the flashes of offensive brilliance, but his defense makes him a MASSIVE net liability, by a mile. He would need to be Bobby Orr + Ray Bourque offensively to make up for his horrendous defense....even then, probably not!

 

[MCR74]

Not at all, Karlsson is elite at aspects of defense. He also has some significant deficiencies. Anyone who thinks he dog shit at defense despite him being elite in aspects of defense doesn’t understand defense. It is more than just clearing the crease and blocking shots.

Edit: not sure if folks saw the metric of player top speeds from the Canada/Sweden games. 34 year old Karlsson’s fastest burst was faster than McDavid’s and a full mph+ faster than MacKinnon’s.

If those aspects don't involve actual defense, sure.