Erik Karlsson's atrocious defending vs Hawks (3 examples)

[BlueMed]

The truth is, Karlsson is a special defensemen. His offensive instincts for a defensemen are generational and yet, his defensive instincts are subpar at best. That presents quite a dilemma because he's essentially just a 4th forward on the ice who cannot match up against other team's top players. That's a problem.

 

[psycat]

The truth is, Karlsson is a special defensemen. His offensive instincts for a defensemen are generational and yet, his defensive instincts are subpar at best. That presents quite a dilemma because he's essentially just a 4th forward on the ice who cannot match up against other team's top players. That's a problem.

In the present that might be true however in his prime he was very good defensively, mostly on the basis that he had the puck more often than not.

 

[Ghetty Green]

In the present that might be true however in his prime he was very good defensively, mostly on the basis that he had the puck more often than not.

No he wasnt He has always been a poor defender Youre trying to change the narrative

 

[psycat]

No he wasnt He has always been a poor defender Youre trying to change the narrative

You are wrong though I saw him be on the ice for 0 goals against during a best on best Olympics, it's you that's trying to change the narrative by using his current shortcomings to discredit what he actually used to do.

 

[Ghetty Green]

You are wrong though I saw him be on the ice for 0 goals against during a best on best Olympics, it's you that try to change the narrative by using his current shortcomings to discredit what he actually used to do.

What do the olympics, a 2 week tournament where hes sheltered by other stud dmen, have anything to do with his piss poor defensive play in the nhl in the last decade ?

Ill wait....

 

[psycat]

What do the olympics, a 2 week tournament where hes sheltered by other stud dmen, have anything to do with his piss poor defensive play in the nhl in the last decade ?

Ill wait....

I mean that was just an example, you didn't show any credible evidence of his "piss poor defensive play for a decade", anybody with a pair of eyes can see he is not playing well currently, just as anybody with eyes could see that he did play well defensively for extended periods of his career.

 

[Agent Zub]

What do the olympics, a 2 week tournament where hes sheltered by other stud dmen, have anything to do with his piss poor defensive play in the nhl in the last decade ?

Ill wait....

What about the 2017 season or his playoffs that season?

 

[Ghetty Green]

What about the 2017 season or his playoffs that season?

Theres your exception 6 weeks in 10 years What a defensive dman.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

Most people knew this, but alot of the fans of whatever team he played for, just couldn't see, blinded by his offence. He can be the most productive offensive defenceman in the game, but his game on his side of centre some nights, has been just awful.

This contract he has signed, could very well be the worst in the league within 2-3 seasons, he looks so un-motivated. I don't buy the whole injury thing, because his good play seems conditional when he feels it. He can be amazing on offense, and people go wild with the credit, but next game they blame injuries for his terrible performance, and his -4

To respond to the whole he looks so unmotivated thing...people see what they want to see. Dude just took home his daughter who was prematurely born. His mind may not be on hockey at the moment but that will change with time. His contract is plenty fine and there's very few Sharks fans actually worried about it. People have always liked to be critical of Karlsson and he's maybe average defensively but that's not what the Sharks got him for. The point of hockey is to outscore what you give up and Karlsson has done plenty of that since being here and will do so plenty down the line too. Dan Boyle wasn't that good defensively either but he was a damn good producer of offense. Karlsson is a better version of that.

 

[Agent Zub]

Theres your exception 6 weeks in 10 years What a defensive dman.

Lol a season is six weeks long?

 

[joe dirte]

Karlsson was bad defensively last year and was good but not Norris level offensively and people were wondering if he’s injured. Well he’s had a whole offseason to recover, and he’s been playing ever since being “injured”....

Is it possible he’s just not as good as he once was?

This is pretty common for most of his career. The excuses have always flowed for him.

"Its just the team hes on".

"His partner is ________". (Jared cowen or whoever.. ) but the funny thing is stats show those players usually fared better without him.

"Hes just still hurt from his achilles" (that lasted almost 2 years.

"Injury blah blah blah".

"Adjusting to a new team".

Its never gonna stop.

Maybe he justvisnt very good defensively, and never has been. There is ample evidence to suppirt that.

 

[joe dirte]

You are wrong though I saw him be on the ice for 0 goals against during a best on best Olympics, it's you that try to change the narrative by using his current shortcomings to discredit what he actually used to do.

Didnt phil kessel have only 1 goal against that olympics?

Shocker he doesnt have a selke yet.

 

[PatrikBerglund]

No he wasnt He has always been a poor defender Youre trying to change the narrative

Got voted best defenceman in 2 out of 2 best on best international tournaments he has been in - and was the best defenceman (player) the last time Ottawa went far in the playoffs.

In the past he stopped floating and brought it when it mattered.

Not anymore though.

 

[Honest M]

Got voted best defenceman in 2 out of 2 best on best international tournaments he has been in - and was the best defenceman (player) the last time Ottawa went far in the playoffs.

In the past he stopped floating and brought it when it mattered.

Not anymore though.

I think he still can get to another lvl when it matters (like he did last season when healthy) , always been a slow starter.

 

[Bertuzzzi44]

Karlsson sucks. His offensive ability isn’t great enough to mask his defensive issues. He constantly needs help from teammates in the defensive zone and his all around game is weak.

 

[Creativero]

I could be wrong but he looks like he just can’t generate any sort power with his body anymore when he isn’t flying around the ice at full speed. He looks like a baby deer on skates.

 

[PlayMakers]

The second one's not awful. He turns it over. Every defenseman has a bad turnover from time to time.

The first and 3rd example are cringeworthy though. Doesn't pick up anyone, doesn't tie up a stick or box out. Just watches and looks disengaged.

As someone said earlier that's never really been his strong suit, defense. One of the best puckmovers in the game? No question. A good defensive defenseman? Not so much.

 

[snu22fint]

He never was any special as a shutdown defenseman. But that is not his role.

He gets caught a lot more often than most defensemen simply because he plays a high risk high reward kind of game where he sometimes try to beat other players one on one in tight situations.

Truth is that at several points in his career he has been so dominant that he basically didn't need to defend at all. And whenever he got beat one on one he just used his speed to get the puck back in notime. I think he led the league in takaways quite comfortably during his yearly norris years. That edge in his skating is far gone now and when he gets beaten bad stuff happens.

He also clearly has his mind in another place atm. He needs to focus and give a damn honestly.

 

[Beville]

Those three defensive lapses in the game would never happen when he was a Sen... sure maybe every few games but not at that level. He also looked a lot more interested and had a good stick.

His defensive play, seemingly, has regressed now he’s a Shark.

 

[pbgoalie]

hes never looked great defensively.
But, especially before his injuries he was the definition of the best defense is a good offense.
He controlled the puck and the game so much, their was little chance for the other teams to pressure his weak coverage
Fun to watch with the puck, funny to watch defending

 

[Quid Pro Clowe]

This thread is dumb, as are most of the responses in it.

His wife and premature child spent 2 weeks in the hospital while he played through it. Of course he looked like his mind was elsewhere.

 

[Star Ocean]

This thread is dumb, as are most of the responses in it.

His wife and premature child spent 2 weeks in the hospital while he played through it. Of course he looked like his mind was elsewhere.

Yes exactly. This was the first game back after he got a kid.

 

[JianYang]

I've always found him to have his warts defensively. It just seems like hes under a bigger microscope the last few years. The injuries haven't helped either, though.

 

[Voight]

You are wrong though I saw him be on the ice for 0 goals against during a best on best Olympics, it's you that's trying to change the narrative by using his current shortcomings to discredit what he actually used to do.

Surrounded by elite talent with the best goalie in the world. Shocker!

 

[Gargyn]

I’ve watched Karlsson since he was a rookie. Probably 10-15 games per year. He’s never been good defensively. He has always made poor reads. Elite offensively but well below average defensively. People saying he was or is good defensively are very wrong.