Prime Erik Karlsson vs Cale Makar

[Stelio Kontos]

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[High five Tom]

Karlsson doesn't play D very well.

 

[NyQuil]

Karlsson.

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

I think its a little hard to judge because prime Karlsson was such a short period of time that it's hard to say just how good he truly was, if that makes sense?


Ultimately I'd say they're neck and neck offensively, but Cale wins out defensively for sure.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Makar and I don’t really think it’s all that close

 

[NyQuil]

I think its a little hard to judge because prime Karlsson was such a short period of time that it's hard to say just how good he truly was, if that makes sense?

I think that's fair.

I have a pretty unique idea of his prime as a Sens fan and it is very short.

Anyway, Makar is great and will have the superior career in the end either way. It's not going to bug me when he wins this poll.

 

[Agent Zub]

Cale isn't as good a playmaker as EK. EK saw the game from above.

And most of you don't know good defensively a prime Karlsson before his skating got f***ed was.

Unforcheckable.

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

...Makar does everything that Prime Swedish Jesus did offensively and is much more sound defensively, imo...

 

[x Tame Impala]

Makar actually won a Cup and Smythe, something Karlsson merely got sort of close to doing. Makar is significantly better defensively than EK ever was

 

[ESH]

...Makar does everything that Prime Swedish Jesus did offensively and is much more sound defensively, imo...

Karlsson finished 4th in league scoring and 1st in assists one season. He had more assists than any of his teammates had points. He was the engine of his team, while Makar has had much more offensive support.

 

[Regal]

Karlsson is a tough player to rank. I think he’s really strong as an individual talent and I think he was probably a better offensive player in a situation where the offense runs through him. I’m not sure if Makar could put up the numbers Karlsson did in ‘16 and ‘23 with the teams Karlsson did it on. But while he rarely had an opportunity to be on a team with better forwards, Karlsson’s numbers haven’t been as good when he’s not the focal point, and in some ways it’s questionable if running your offense through the backend is as useful.

I think I have more confidence in Makar in terms of being great offensively with other great offensive players because we’ve seen that from him, and ultimately that’s what you want if you want to win, because you’re never going to be anything more than a Cinderella team with Karlsson and a cast of misfits.

And then we look at defense, and while Karlsson has had periods of strong play like in ‘13, ‘17 and at the Olympics, ultimately he had a lot more periods of weak or mediocre play. Makar has shown to be a lot more consistently good in his own zone.

Based on everything that we’ve seen from them, I would take Makar. But in another reality where Karlsson doesn’t get injured in ‘13 and/or ‘17 and he plays on more competitive teams, maybe things would be different

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

Karlsson finished 4th in league scoring and 1st in assists one season. He had more assists than any of his teammates had points. He was the engine of his team, while Makar has had much more offensive support.

...wasn't that also the year he was a -26??...

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

I think EK's absolute offensive peak (albeit short-lived) surpasses Makar's (that said, has he reached his peak?). But overall it's Makar due to their defensive games.

 

[landy]

Makar and its not close.

 

[Coffee]

Makman

 

[Gerulaitis]

Makar.
Better defensively.

Karlsson is more like the 4th forward. A rover.

 

[Grifter3511]

Makar actually won a Cup and Smythe, something Karlsson merely got sort of close to doing. Makar is significantly better defensively than EK ever was

Yep. It's Karlsson's fault the Senators never won a Cup.

That said, IF I was voting I probably vote Makar.

 

[elmaco]

EK had unrivaled vision, apart from a few poke checks he sucked at D. Makar but close.

 

[Turin]

Big Karlsson fan and it's pretty obviously Makar.

 

[Tasty Biscuits]

...wasn't that also the year he was a -26??...

At 5-on-5 he actually had an even differential (even though the team decidedly did not, which makes it more impressive), but empty net goals (and some shorties) contributed to the ugly +/-

Anyway, everyone knows +/- is for chumps.

 

[Tasty Biscuits]

Yep. It's Karlsson's fault the Senators never won a Cup.

That said, IF I was voting I probably vote Makar.

That 2017 run was something else. Singlehandedly (or single-leggedly, really), dragged them to a goal away from a cup final, which they would've had a great shot at.

 

[ESH]

...wasn't that also the year he was a -26??...

No

 

[NOTENOUGHRYJOTHINGS]

Karlsson finished 4th in league scoring and 1st in assists one season. He had more assists than any of his teammates had points. He was the engine of his team, while Makar has had much more offensive support.

Didn't Makar finish third overall in scoring and first on his team before?

 

[Gurglesons]

EK65 did it without a team loaded with future hall of famers.

 

[avsfan9]

EK65 did it without a team loaded with future hall of famers.

Ahh yes… the same EK65 that had 101 points with the sharks then is traded to a team full of hall of famers and goes on to score half that in the next two seasons? Gotcha good point.