Prime: Erik Karlsson vs. Drew Doughty

[swiftwin]

Depends what you consider "prime".

At absolute peaks (ie. 2-3 month timeframes), it's Karlsson AINEC. Karlsson circa 2013 pre-Cooke, and in the 2017 playoffs, Karlsson was the best player in the world.

If we're talking about bigger timeframes, it's still Karlsson, but it's much closer.

 

[TGWL]

I really hate to think what Karlsson could have been if Matt Cooke didn't injure him badly

He still was great in his prime but what he was showing before that injury was another level.

and if he took offseason training serious. So gifted but basically has the old day mentality of training camp being the leagues gift of getting in game shape. but yeah, that injury was nasty.

If the only argument is "Doughty is a better overall player", I can't take those voting for Doughty serious.

 

[The Nuge]

This boils down to if you think the ~20 point gap between the 2 of them is worth the massive drop in defensive ability going from Doughty to Karlsson. If I’m trying to win a championship, give me Doughty every day. If I’m just trying to sell tickets, give me Karlsson

 

[DJJones]

"Prime Karlsson" is right up there with sea level Cain in mythology haha.

I always thought Doughty was better, what he brought defensively and elsewhere was worth more than an extra 15-20 points. Ice just tilted when he was the ice. With EK I'd alternate between being wow'd and "well that was stupid". Not what I want from a defender.

Unless his prime is like 20 games from the one playoff run, I'd go Doughty

 

[The Abusement Park]

Yeah I don't really see how this is Doughty. EK's prime was top 2/3 players in the league. Not just dmen. Doughty is great but I think EK takes this by a small but clear gap.

 

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

I remember the hours on hours on hours I spent arguing with Doughty fans/Karlsson/Sens haters that Karlsson was definitely superior. I was laughed at heavily when I said Karlsson the creme de la creme of position with his role and impact that will be resonated with new wave of defenders to be likened to him. It's quite amazing how during the time, many polls leaned Doughty but now, in hindsight, and with no bias against Ottawa and the like, he's unquestionable the correct answer.

I feel vindicated.

 

[BlueMed]

Karlsson wins ticket sales. Doughty wins championships.

 

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

Karlsson wins ticket sales. Doughty wins championships.

Olympics 2014.

Playoffs 2017.

Karlsson can carry a team better than any, and he made bottom feeding Ottawa relevant for years when they had no business.

Doughty played on a powerhouse. The moment Karlsson did, his team made finals in his first season there.

Foolish and weak viewpoint. Teams win championships.

 

[BlueMed]

Olympics 2014.

Playoffs 2017.

Karlsson can carry a team better than any, and he made bottom feeding Ottawa relevant for years when they had no business.

Doughty played on a powerhouse. The moment Karlsson did, his team made finals in his first season there.

Foolish and weak viewpoint. Teams win championships.

When was the last time a pure offensive defensemen has lead his team to a cup? I can name tons of 2-way defensemen who have in the past 12 years...Hedman x2, Keith x3, Doughty x2, Pietrangelo x1, and Chara x1.

 

[Frolov 6'3]

When was the last time a pure offensive defensemen has lead his team to a cup? I can name tons of 2-way defensemen who have in the past 12 years...Hedman x2, Keith x3, Doughty x2, Pietrangelo x1, and Chara x1.

Pretty much.

Essentially he is right, without other good players you will not win much but he is forgetting Doughty was on the ice for half of the game for a reason…

 

[Xspyrit]

The problem Karlsson has had in Ottawa is that too many key players had too many injuries, including him and Methot. The other problem was the limited budget to bring in more depth and fix roster holes as well as the cheap inexperienced coaching staff.

Pretty hard to win championships in these conditions

I remember the hours on hours on hours I spent arguing with Doughty fans/Karlsson/Sens haters that Karlsson was definitely superior. I was laughed at heavily when I said Karlsson the creme de la creme of position with his role and impact that will be resonated with new wave of defenders to be likened to him. It's quite amazing how during the time, many polls leaned Doughty but now, in hindsight, and with no bias against Ottawa and the like, he's unquestionable the correct answer.

I feel vindicated.

The dirty money I made with Erik Karlsson rookie cards on Ebay made me vindicated

 

[Iggys Dome]

Call me crazy but I’d take Doughty

 

[SpezDispenser]

Very few players came close to prime Karlsson and Doughty sure as shit wasn't one of them.

 

[wetcoast]

Karlsson paved the way for defence men like Makar.

I hope that you are being sarcastic here?

 

[wetcoast]

I remember the hours on hours on hours I spent arguing with Doughty fans/Karlsson/Sens haters that Karlsson was definitely superior. I was laughed at heavily when I said Karlsson the creme de la creme of position with his role and impact that will be resonated with new wave of defenders to be likened to him. It's quite amazing how during the time, many polls leaned Doughty but now, in hindsight, and with no bias against Ottawa and the like, he's unquestionable the correct answer.

I feel vindicated.

How ironic that no doubt you among your beleaguered EK brethren always argued how well EK would do only if he had a real team to play for then goes to the Sharks and has been in the shadow of Brent Burns the whole time.

But go right on feeling "vindicated."

 

[Adele Dazeem]

One is a historical player; the other generational - at best.

 

[Gurglesons]

When was the last time a pure offensive defensemen has lead his team to a cup? I can name tons of 2-way defensemen who have in the past 12 years...Hedman x2, Keith x3, Doughty x2, Pietrangelo x1, and Chara x1.

If you put EK on any of those teams in his prime is he not winning a cup?

 

[JackSlater]

I'd say that this is clearly Karlsson. Also a rare case where both players tend to be underrated.

 

[Voight]

Olympics 2014.

Playoffs 2017.

Karlsson can carry a team better than any, and he made bottom feeding Ottawa relevant for years when they had no business.

Doughty played on a powerhouse. The moment Karlsson did, his team made finals in his first season there.

Foolish and weak viewpoint. Teams win championships.

Look at Doughty in the 2014 playoffs... or either of the Olympics he played in. He made the 2010 squad as a sophomore, thats not an easy task.

Karlsson can maybe carry a team on the score sheet (not too hard when they are feeding you the puck constantly) but good luck winning the big one with a guy who isnt very good defensively.

 

[Sweetpotato]

You can count on 1 hand the number of dmen who had the on ice impact Karlsson had in his peak. Other than Pronger and Orr, off the top of my head, i can't think of a dman that dragged a team kicking and screaming to a cup final like Karlsson did.

Doughty was a stud, love his game and would kill to have him even now in Edmonton, but this is EK.

 

[MightySelanne8]

the hate EK gets is hilarious from some posters. This is EK every f***ing day of the week, I honestly wonder sometimes if people have so short memories?

 

[biturbo19]

Karlsson had a pretty magical absolute "peak". But on the whole, over their respective "primes"...i'd still take Doughty. He was an absolute stud in every single aspect of the game. Not just a guy who was so good offensively that he could wash out anything else.

 

[RickyLafleur]

EK had a conn smythe vote despite not making it to the finals in 2017.

 

[hohosaregood]

They were both overrated

 

[BradyTkachucky]

It's Erik Karlsson by far.