your arguments are ludicrous... Karlsson spends more time on the ice than anyone on the team. If he was so poor defensively that would show in his +/-, which while not great is still far better than both Spezza and Michalek.
If he wasn't playing a 200ft game -- his +/- would reflect that of Spezza's. He has far less turn overs, far less give up in the defensive zone, far better board recovery than Spezza. He even hits more than Spezza. I don't care if Spezza is post injury, pre injury, no injury... Karlsson is a generational talent -- Spezza is not.
This is one of the most ridiculous arguments I've ever seen. I'm sure you're splitting hairs when saying that Karlsson would have a +/- reflective of Spezza's (Karlsson is a -11, which is the worst on the team for defencemen, and Spezza is a -14 which isn't the worst on the team amongst forwards).
Far less turnovers? Karlsson has 15 more giveaways than Spezza does and only 4 more takeaways. Karlsson constantly lets the other team get to the puck first, gives up on the play in his own zone a ton, and doesn't put nearly as much effort getting back to the defensive zone as he does going forward.
But yes, convince yourself that somehow Karlsson is this do-no-wrong generation talent and Spezza is a bum.
Sorry but that does not compute.
Karlsson may not be a stud defensively, but he works his arse off, battling along the boards, backchecking hard back on every play. All things Spezza never does.
You are out to lunch dude with this whole Spezza vs Karlsson stuff.
See above. That's simply not true. Karlsson has a wealth of time to pull from on the ice and the majority of that is him being shy to contact in his own zone, letting the other team get to the puck first almost every time the puck is dumped into the zone despite being much closer, and making many, many defensive gaffes. Backchecking hard on every play? Please.
Karlsson is an insane talent going forward and playing offensively, but he's been absolutely awful in his own zone especially this year.
Karlsson is 9th on the team with 61 hits (Spez is 22nd with 12).
Karlsson is 4th on the team in blocked shots with 44 (Spez 12th with 17).
Karlsson is 1st on the team with 32 takeaways (Spez 3rd with 28).
Yeah, Karlsson is really soft.
Colin Greening is what...2 hits behind Neil? He must be a crusher of souls. Defencemen always have more blocked shots, and he is 4th among defencemen in blocked shots behind guys he spends nearly 10 minutes a night more on the ice than. Again, Spezza has 4 less takeaways in 2 less games playing 10 minutes a night less than Karlsson.
But yes, Spezza is soft as melted butter, and Karlsson is an iron wall of defence.