Erik Karlsson

[KRM]

Congratulations Ottawa on selecting Erik Karlsson!

"Erik is excellent on the power-play; he makes smart passes and has great vision. He plays the game with confidence, has a natural hockey sense and is a consistent offensive threat. He compensates for his lack of strength and size with his mobility, passing and vision and is at his best as an offensive d-man. Overall, he needs more weight and strength in order to be more effective in front of his own net."

As soon as I saw Alfie walking up there with your management I knew he was going to pick Karlsson. You will be able to see him play on October 2 when Frölunda host Ottawa in Gothenburg.

He is small but he has worked hard this season to build up muscle. He has superb offensive skills and confidence rarely found at that age.

This is in OT, in his first SEL game.

Click to read more...

 

[Garl]

Yeah, good pick IMO.

 

[thinkwild]

So we can hold alfie accountable if Karlsson doesnt work out?

The expectation seemed to be that Murray would draft big players only. Guess not.

Lets hope he can be a rafalski, although he claims he hopes to be like Kronvall. Fingers crossed.

 

[pepty]

I wonder if they will have him in the lineup for one of the pre season games in Sweden.

edit-just noticed that the first poster said he will be playing for Frolunda.

This is very nice for Alfie, a hometown boy.

He's listed 4th of the European skaters on the Central scouting list.

 

[SeNaToR PhIL]

Kronwall? He better start hitting the gym, eating lots of veggies, eggs and steak!!!

 

[NyQuil]

I must say that I love the character of the Swedes.

Once they're acclimatized, they're like Canadians with European skill.

If I had my way, I'd stock up on Swedes and Canadians until the cows came home.

 

[freakin]

probably a couple years away from entering the NHL, hopefully we have a goalie by then for him to defend. It's a great pick.

 

[Vicarious]

Im very happy with this pick. Full of potential and could be a major piece to our blueline in the future. +1 Murray.

 

[Hale The Villain]

Do you think that Karlsson will be in the top 50 prospects (HF) this upcoming year?

 

[KRM]

Kronwall? He better start hitting the gym, eating lots of veggies, eggs and steak!!!

Kronwall is 6'0", 189lbs. Karlsson is 5'11", 165lbs. Not that far off, and the comparison is due to both playing bigger then their size. Karlsson isn't known for delivering hard open ice hits, but he stands up for him self.

Edit: I can't find the quote right now but McKeen's Hockey rated him 10th overall in their final ranking, and said something along the lines of that he was best offensive defenseman in this draft except for maybe Doughty.

 

[Red Dragon]

Kronwall is 6'0", 189lbs. Karlsson is 5'11", 165lbs. Not that far off, and the comparison is due to both playing bigger then their size. Karlsson isn't know for delivering hard open ice hits, but he stands up for him self.

He is listed as 157lbs on tsn, but Im sure he will fill out.

 

[4thliner*]

D -- Erik Karlsson

Team: Frolunda Jr. (Sweden)
2007-08 Stats: 38 GP - 13 G - 24 A - 37 P
Shoots: Right -- Height: 5'11" -- Weight: 165 lbs
Birthdate: May 31, 1990
Hometown: Landsbro, Sweden



"I think he's the steal of the draft to be honest with you if he's not taken in the top 10," said Grant McCagg, publisher of the McKeen's Hockey Draft Guide. "Only Doughty would compare as far as offensive puck skills go and he's probably better because he's a better skater.

"Superior vision, puckhandling, passing, skating and he competes; he's an above average competitor," McCagg said. "Weakness would be he just needs to put on some size and add some muscle and work on his defensive game a little bit. He's one of the top 10 prospects in this draft as far as I'm concerned."

 

[TheHMan]

We moved up in the draft to get a Swede? Is this a sign of things to come? Hopefully we can nab Naslund for his whole "money not the important part" deal.

 

[danishh]

we shall see how this turns out. I'm fine with guys like this as long as ALL our picks arn't like this. I'd like to see murray take a bigger/physical d-man in a later round. (demers please).

 

[The Mars Volchenkov]

For only weighing 157 pounds, he sure put a lot of power into that slapshot.

 

[jamiebez]

Lets hope he can be a rafalski, although he claims he hopes to be like Kronvall. Fingers crossed.

If he skates like Rafalski and hits like Kronwall, he'll be awesome

 

[KRM]

He is listed as 157lbs on tsn, but Im sure he will fill out.

He was listed at 5'11", 165lbs, at the draft combine. And to further spin on the Kronwall comparison; Kronwall who was drafted as an overager was listed at 155lbs on draft day.

I can guarantee you that Karlsson would've been a Detroit pick unless he had skyrocket in the rankings the last month.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

I like it. Will be a good project for a few years, and hopefully we can see him step up to the big club in 3 or 4 years.

 

[TheGeneral]

can someone fill me in, I just got home from work. Did ottawa and nashville make a clean swap 18 for 15? Also I really like this pick should be able to step in and make a difference on our PP in a few seasons.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

can someone fill me in, I just got home from work. Did ottawa and nashville make a clean swap 18 for 15? Also I really like this pick should be able to step in and make a difference on our PP in a few seasons.

I believe we also threw in a 3rd rounder next year.

 

[jamiebez]

can someone fill me in, I just got home from work. Did ottawa and nashville make a clean swap 18 for 15? Also I really like this pick should be able to step in and make a difference on our PP in a few seasons.

We added a 3rd rounder in 2009.

 

[Asquaredx2]

I was trying to think why they had moved up, and it dawned on me about a second before they made the pick that they were going to take Karlsson.

I'm quite happy with this outcome.

 

[MeanJoeGreene]

If he skates like Rafalski and hits like Kronwall, he'll be awesome

What if he skates like Kronwall and hits like Rafalski?

 

[mayoradamwest*]

What if he skates like Kronwall and hits like Rafalski?

We'll have to send him to Rand McNally?

 

[Hossa]

In my opinion this is a fantastic pick. It's precisely the type of pick we needed, a player with upside, skill, creativity. He's got steal potential, he's good value at that spot, and securing him cost very little. I'm ecstatic.