Erik Karlsson's another bad start to a season, 1 assist, -6 for 3 first games

[authentic]

So you disagree that the 2021 NHL has superior skating talent to the 2012-2016 NHL? That would be shocking to find out that people think otherwise.

Keep in mind that during those years, slow, heavy players like Correy Perry and Milan Lucic were effective and 4th lines / bottom pairings had guys slow, lumbering guys like John Scott and Matt Greene; whereas todays effective players skate and play fast while 4th lines are populated by young players who can keep up with the pace of the NHL. Vegas even drafted an entire team around speed and pace...

I don't disagree with that, but who is faster and more skilled than Karlsson just 4 years ago? Name someone and compare clips.

 

[canucklover123]

Diminished a bit? He's noticeably a far worse skater than he used to be. Peak Karlsson was better offensively, hands down, than Cale Makar even. We have video evidence of this lol

Last week, he had 105 P or so in last 120 Games. Pretty much keeping him on track with his seasons best. His ability to dominate games might have diminished but his ability to be offensive and produce hasn't

 

[Uncle Scrooge]

Karlsson was at his best right before the Cooke injury when he was 22. He was skating near McDavid level. That he still put up dominant season after is just a testament to his raw ability.

But truth is we never got to see Karlssons real prime.

He probably doesn't skate quite like that near his 30's anyway, players tend to lose at least some of that explosiveness they had as youngsters and make up for it with experience and better overall game.

I consider 16-17 EK his 'real' prime. He was one of the best skaters, showed maturity buying in to a defensive structure while still putting up almost PPG on a team with no star forwards (led his entire team by 10 pts) as Mark Stone wasn't quite the player he is today, and in the playoffs was amazing playing on one leg. He truly was the face of that franchise and a superstar, even defensively pretty solid.

That's the EK we should still be seeing today but obviously injuries slowed him down. I actually consider that playoff injury more detrimental to his career than the Cooke one as he's been struggling to get his game back on track ever since. We saw him getting to that level 2 years later with SJ for a few weeks mid-season but then he got hurt again.

 

[CupsOverCash]

Has he been that bad? Is he buyout bad?

 

[johan f]

He does not skate worse because of age. It is because Cooke and then later played full post season with an injured foot. Which then required a major surgery. If he did not play that spring of 2017 he would have been better skater.

 

[Cas]

Has he been that bad? Is he buyout bad?

Karlsson has been pretty good for four games, after being not good for three. A buyout is not even a theoretical possibility.

The real problem for the Sharks are the boat anchors that are Jones and Vlasic and the poor play of Couture, Kane, Meier, and even Hertl.

 

[tiburon12]

I don't disagree with that, but who is faster and more skilled than Karlsson just 4 years ago? Name someone and compare clips.

If you dont disagree then there's no point to argue, right?

Clips don't help because they cant compare today's NHL with an older NHL; skating ability is relative. That's precisely why I emphasized that he looks worse comparatively, since the talent around him is better. If in the next 5 years more defenseman have elite speed, then McDavid won't look as fast because the rest of the league has gotten faster.

the 2015-2016 season, where the Penguins won of a speed-based game, was a huge turning point. It was also when elite skating rookie standouts Connor McDavid and Dylan Larkin and Jack Eichel came into the league. All three of those players, as 2nd years, were better skaters than Karlsson by 2017. Now, most of the young starts like MacKinnon, Aho, Q Hughes, Heiskanen, Point, Makar, all have elite skating that is comparable or better than Karlsson, even in his prime.

 

[Agent Zub]

If you dont disagree then there's no point to argue, right?

Clips don't help because they cant compare today's NHL with an older NHL; skating ability is relative. That's precisely why I emphasized that he looks worse comparatively, since the talent around him is better. If in the next 5 years more defenseman have elite speed, then McDavid won't look as fast because the rest of the league has gotten faster.

the 2015-2016 season, where the Penguins won of a speed-based game, was a huge turning point. It was also when elite skating rookie standouts Connor McDavid and Dylan Larkin and Jack Eichel came into the league. All three of those players, as 2nd years, were better skaters than Karlsson by 2017. Now, most of the young starts like MacKinnon, Aho, Q Hughes, Heiskanen, Point, Makar, all have elite skating that is comparable or better than Karlsson, even in his prime.

Karlssons prime skating and puck rushing could only be rivaled by McDavid, Point, MacKinnon imo. What's more he could go end to end and still look like he had fresh legs at the end of the shift. He honestly looked like he never tired,even while playing 25+ hard minutes every night.

This is a far cry from Karlsson of today who looks gassed all the time. His biomechanics are shot.

 

[BlueMed]

Karlssons prime skating and puck rushing could only be rivaled by McDavid, Point, MacKinnon imo. What's more he could go end to end and still look like he had fresh legs at the end of the shift. He honestly looked like he never tired,even while playing 25+ hard minutes every night.

This is a far cry from Karlsson of today who looks gassed all the time. His biomechanics are shot.

Point? Haha what?

 

[Agent Zub]

Point? Haha what?

Yes Point is one of the best 3 zone puck carriers in the league.

 

[TeddyBare]

Has he been that bad? Is he buyout bad?

You can't really buyout 30+ million in signing bonuses he is due

 

[tiburon12]

Karlssons prime skating and puck rushing could only be rivaled by McDavid, Point, MacKinnon imo. What's more he could go end to end and still look like he had fresh legs at the end of the shift. He honestly looked like he never tired,even while playing 25+ hard minutes every night.

This is a far cry from Karlsson of today who looks gassed all the time. His biomechanics are shot.

I agree with this, relative to the rest of the league. McDavid and MacKinnon, today, are far better skaters and puck handlers than Karlsson ever was. The rest of the league is better around them as well

 

[Evergreen]

Karlsson has been pretty good for four games, after being not good for three. A buyout is not even a theoretical possibility.

The real problem for the Sharks are the boat anchors that are Jones and Vlasic and the poor play of Couture, Kane, Meier, and even Hertl.

As a neutral observer, I don't think Couture should be lumped into that mix. In the games I've watched, he's been the best forward on the team.

 

[Groo]

Karlsson has been pretty good for four games, after being not good for three. A buyout is not even a theoretical possibility.

The real problem for the Sharks are the boat anchors that are Jones and Vlasic and the poor play of Couture, Kane, Meier, and even Hertl.

Um no. EK has either flat out sucked for most of those games and barley passable for the rest

 

[Pinkfloyd]

As a neutral observer, I don't think Couture should be lumped into that mix. In the games I've watched, he's been the best forward on the team.

Couture looks to be clicking with Donato and Labanc but the play is often generated by the wingers rather than Couture. Couture is not currently playing as poorly as the other three but before the last couple of games, he absolutely was and he is known to coast during the regular season. Couture is at his best on a talented team that allows him to do that so he can up his game for the playoffs to carry a team. Now that he no longer has that benefit here, it's kind of showing that he can't be the leader during the season.

 

[authentic]

If you dont disagree then there's no point to argue, right?

Clips don't help because they cant compare today's NHL with an older NHL; skating ability is relative. That's precisely why I emphasized that he looks worse comparatively, since the talent around him is better. If in the next 5 years more defenseman have elite speed, then McDavid won't look as fast because the rest of the league has gotten faster.

the 2015-2016 season, where the Penguins won of a speed-based game, was a huge turning point. It was also when elite skating rookie standouts Connor McDavid and Dylan Larkin and Jack Eichel came into the league. All three of those players, as 2nd years, were better skaters than Karlsson by 2017. Now, most of the young starts like MacKinnon, Aho, Q Hughes, Heiskanen, Point, Makar, all have elite skating that is comparable or better than Karlsson, even in his prime.

Among defensemen, only Heiskanen is a better skater, but not by much if at all. None are better offensive players or overall defensemen.

 

[authentic]

I agree with this, relative to the rest of the league. McDavid and MacKinnon, today, are far better skaters and puck handlers than Karlsson ever was. The rest of the league is better around them as well

McDavid sure, MacKinnon far better is an exaggeration.

 

[apadilla]

Seems like he and from the sounds of it Doughty are shells of their former selves but they're both only like 30 aren't they?

IMO Drew is having a bounce back season after two dismal years. Not a best defenseman rebound, but a very respectable showing. 3 Goals and 6 points and a -3 in 8 games played +27 minutes a game. Most importantly, the fire in his game is back.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

IMO Drew is having a bounce back season after two dismal years. Not a best defenseman rebound, but a very respectable showing. 3 Goals and 6 points and a -3 in 8 games played +27 minutes a game. Most importantly, the fire in his game is back.

I feel like the -3 was probably not the best stat to use to make the case.