Tribute Thank you Erik Karlsson

[OrrNumber4]

He started with an epic performance in the 2019 playoffs (and the regular season, too) and finished with the best season by a defenseman in the team's history. Unfortunately, what was between the bread was lacking, but I'll focus on the good for at least this thread.

Wishing him plenty of success in Pittsburgh (just not this season)!

Click to read more...

 

[Pavelski2112]

Unfortunate that he came into a bad situation with the Sharks, and that injuries derailed a couple years for him, but ultimately Erik made the Sharks at least somewhat fun to watch during these rough times. Plus, we'll always have that 2019 run from him that he was stellar in, plus the greatest season by a defenseman in 30+ years.

 

[hotcabbagesoup]

Thanks Erik. I hope some of the dmen learned some tips and tricks from you. Because if I was a dman I would try to absorb everything. Your greatest value is what you can do for others so yea we'll see ya, bud.

 

[mogambomoroo]

Thank you EK65!
I feel bad for saying this, since I was super excited about having him in teal BUT It feels like EK65 was kinda our Mark Messier in Vancouver. Not as bad obviously but there is some of that feeling imo, something was missing.
He was never truly a forever Shark, he was good but never like Thornton/Pavs/Marleau/Burns or even Couture good.

 

[landshark]

So long, and thanks for all the fish.

 

[Mafoofoo]

EK65’s time in SJ was similar to my time in college

Year 1 ok then finish strong before falling off
Year 2-4 lazing around and doing a whole bunch of nothing
Year 5 get serious and do really well then move onto a well known organization with high short term expectations


So basically the Sharks were a college fraternity for EK65

 

[Alaskanice]

Erik, I thank you for your time here. When you win the Norris trophy, it was worth it. Best to you and yours.

 

[DG93]

Thanks, and good luck in Pittsburgh

 

[fasterthanlight]

Thanks Erik! You came in with weird circumstances (you didn't really want to leave Ottawa). You left in weird circumstances (requesting a trade). Despite this, I still like ya and hope you lift the cup someday (but not at the expense of our draft position).

 

[hotcabbagesoup]

Man, Im fearing what life will be like without him right now. One less guy to move the puck out of the dzone and many more Vladic lobs to the middle of nowhere are playing in my head rightnow

 

[ChompChomp]

The day you were acquired I was so happy. Second most happiest day in terms of trade acquisitions to Jumbo. I remember running to my phone and starting a FB post with "THE SHARKS HAVE ACQUIRED THE BEST DEFENSEMAN IN THE WORLD!!!!!"

You were on the short list of people I've pipe dreamed about in teal. (Evander Kane was another, but this is about you, the real EK) And then it happened and that moment was awesome.

It's a shame that injuries derailed your run, especially 2019. Man if you were 100% throughout the 2019 playoffs....

I appreciate a lot of Sharks fans look at with you disdain, but not me. I think of you as a generational offensive defenseman and glad you were a Shark for five seasons. And it helps that you were a good dude and good locker room guy. I'll never forget Sharks/Bronze Knights Game 6 2019 and you telling Hertl "Nice shot you f****** b*****".

Thank you EK65. Good luck in the remainder of your career!

 

[Le Rosbeef]

I asked ChatGPT to write him a tribute.

Man, AI is scary:

Oh, Erik Karlsson, what a journey we've had with you in San Jose. From the moment you arrived, we were filled with hope and excitement. We envisioned you leading our team to glory, effortlessly gliding across the ice, dazzling us with your incredible skills. And boy, did you deliver... sometimes.

We'll never forget those moments when you effortlessly controlled the game, making impossible plays seem routine. Your smooth skating and pinpoint passes were a joy to behold. We were grateful for your contributions, especially when you helped us reach the playoffs and provided some thrilling moments.

But let's be honest, Erik. You weren't always at your best. Injuries seemed to plague you, and when you were on the ice, there were times when it seemed like you were in a different game altogether. We watched in frustration as turnovers piled up, defensive lapses occurred, and the goals against kept coming. It was like a rollercoaster ride, only without the fun.

And now, as you leave us for Pittsburgh, we're left with mixed emotions. Grateful for the memories you provided, but also relieved that we won't have to endure the rollercoaster anymore. We'll miss your occasional brilliance, but we won't miss the inconsistency that came with it.

So, Erik Karlsson, thank you for your time in San Jose. We wish you the best in Pittsburgh, where hopefully you'll find the consistency and success you couldn't quite achieve with us. Farewell, and may your new team appreciate your talents more than we sometimes did.

 

[Shark Finn]

Oh, what should have been.. I was absolutely ecstatic when the Sharks landed him. It didn't work out as the Sharks wanted in the end.

 

[stator]

"THE SHARKS HAVE ACQUIRED THE BEST DEFENSEMAN IN THE WORLD!!!!!"

Except for the fact that he couldn't play defense all that well. He shines with the puck, not so much without it.

 

[tiburon12]

I think in 10 years we'll look back at "the Karlsson era" and focus on the bread, as @OrrNumber4 put it. The meat, if you will, will probably be viewed in the prism of Covid and as occurring during the natural transitional nadir that came end of the Thronton Era. Ultimately, Karlsson's down years didnt matter because the team was falling apart either way (we had Boughner as a coach lol).

But his strong years got us a memorable cup run and last seasons, for the first time since Covid, Sharks hockey was fun to watch, and he was the singular reason.

Glad we got to see him in Teal, we're lucky

 

[sharski]

I asked ChatGPT to write him a tribute.

Man, AI is scary:

Oh, Erik Karlsson, what a journey we've had with you in San Jose. From the moment you arrived, we were filled with hope and excitement. We envisioned you leading our team to glory, effortlessly gliding across the ice, dazzling us with your incredible skills. And boy, did you deliver... sometimes.

We'll never forget those moments when you effortlessly controlled the game, making impossible plays seem routine. Your smooth skating and pinpoint passes were a joy to behold. We were grateful for your contributions, especially when you helped us reach the playoffs and provided some thrilling moments.

But let's be honest, Erik. You weren't always at your best. Injuries seemed to plague you, and when you were on the ice, there were times when it seemed like you were in a different game altogether. We watched in frustration as turnovers piled up, defensive lapses occurred, and the goals against kept coming. It was like a rollercoaster ride, only without the fun.

And now, as you leave us for Pittsburgh, we're left with mixed emotions. Grateful for the memories you provided, but also relieved that we won't have to endure the rollercoaster anymore. We'll miss your occasional brilliance, but we won't miss the inconsistency that came with it.

So, Erik Karlsson, thank you for your time in San Jose. We wish you the best in Pittsburgh, where hopefully you'll find the consistency and success you couldn't quite achieve with us. Farewell, and may your new team appreciate your talents more than we sometimes did.

90% confident ChatGPT is an HF Boards poster

 

[landshark]

90% confident ChatGPT is an HF Boards poster

hahhahahaha

 

[SJSharksfan39]

I still think choosing Karlsson over Pavelski hurt this franchise in the long run, but there were spurts where it was worth it. I hope he has success in Pittsburgh and wins a cup. I would rather see Pittsburgh win a cup than Vegas again.

 

[hohosaregood]

I still think choosing Karlsson over Pavelski hurt this franchise in the long run, but there were spurts where it was worth it. I hope he has success in Pittsburgh and wins a cup. I would rather see Pittsburgh win a cup than Vegas again.

It was more the Kane trade and signing that pushed us over the tipping point. That trade forced us to give Ottawa the Stutzle pick and the choice was signing Kane over Pavelski. Regardless, I don't think signing Pavelski would've prevented us from getting to this point. He might have helped us wallow in mediocrity for a few more years before completely bottoming out though.

 

[landshark]

No thank you thread for Hamaliuk?