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

[Puckluck13]

He really is awful defensively. Like not even NHL calibre. He would be in hot water with coach in AHL if he did that.

 

[Star Ocean]

When you are among the top 3 highest paid Defensemen in the NHL, you are open to such criticism. Yes, he makes the same mistakes that other humans do, but the expectations are (appropriately) higher. I don't think anyone really dislikes the guy or even his game. When top guys put forth s**t efforts, they should be called out.

doughty was terrible last season, and there wasnt much outrage about it. Yeah, he got some critcism but Karlsson has a thread immediately at mainboards as soon as he does a mistake.

 

[MikeK]

doughty was terrible last season, and there wasnt much outrage about it. Yeah, he got some critcism but Karlsson has a thread immediately at mainboards as soon as he does a mistake.

What does Doughty have to do with EK or this thread?

 

[robsenz]

Yeah he just didn't look too engaged...but again, he's always been a slow starter to the season. Wouldn't be concerned if I was a sharks fan.

 

[Star Ocean]

What does Doughty have to do with EK or this thread?

The bold text that I quoted? Top players should be called out when giving no effort.

 

[MikeK]

The bold text that I quoted? Top players should be called out when giving no effort.

I just don't understand why you seem to be so emotionally insulted by others calling out EK for his terrible play. What another player did last year really has nothing to do with anything.

 

[Hi ImHFNYR]

Save for maybe 1 single year, HF massively overrated EK as it does with all dmen who score points...bc it's easy to recognize nice passes, smooth skating and points. It takes zero effort. Looking at the D side of things is like a myth around here. Now that he has slowed down and become susceptible to the injury bug this is an atrocious contract. I don't expect him to be completely atrocious just yet but expect to see more of this and less O as the next few years go by

 

[garyturner3]

IMO this is just who Karlsson is; it's nothing new so it shouldn't really surprise anyone. He's always been a sub-par defensive player lacking in the effort department at times. The positives he brings vastly outweigh the negatives though which is why his advanced stats are always so great.

He's obviously still a star, but it's been a few years now where he hasn't been as dominant as he used to be so when that happens his defensive issues are not as easy to tolerate IMO. I think it may be time to just accept he may not ever get back to being a top 3/5 d-man in the league. Doesn't mean he's not still a very valuable player that can help a team win.

 

[Star Ocean]

I just don't understand why you seem to be so emotionally insulted by others calling out EK for his terrible play. What another player did last year really has nothing to do with anything.

why are you so concerned that i mentioned doughty because he is overrated as hell?

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

Watching those, looks like Karlsson's mailing it in and more interested in just collecting his cheque than putting in the effort. Especially the last goal was awful. Was he trying to defend against his guy by shoving him with his ass or something?

The things is, my biggest criticism of Karlsson over the years has been him making plays like this around his own net. It's not physical, it's that he occasionally mails it in and gets burned. Last night it just happened several times in one game.

The good news/bad news of it for Sharks fans is it doesn't look like physical limitations, it was mental mistakes. It should be correctable when he starts playing like he cares, which usually happens around December.

 

[WSS11]

Haven’t Senators fans claimed for years that EK65 is a slow starter? He was pretty bad early last year as well and then went on a tear. If he’s playing like this in December I’ll be worried

 

[Ryan Michaels]

The question is, is he still injured? Doubt he's 100%.

I would be floored if someone with Karlsson's injury history, at his age and with San Jose's long-term commitment to him, would start the season injured. I know he has a legitimate history but I feel like every off game EK has had for the better part of a decade has prompted this comment, might just be slumping like everyone else.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I like Karlsson a lot, but all three of those plays are really weird to me. It's not like he got confused... more like "controller disconnected" mode right in the middle of a play.

Are we sure he's OK? That's a very very weird look for any NHL player to just stand there and stare at the puck.

 

[Bandit]

I like Karlsson a lot, but all three of those plays are really weird to me. It's not like he got confused... more like "controller disconnected" mode right in the middle of a play.

Are we sure he's OK? That's a very very weird look for any NHL player to just stand there and stare at the puck.

He does this a lot actually. Usually the lowlights of him getting scored on end with him standing upright watching the puck go into his net.

 

[triggrman]

Karlsson's offense usually mask his defensive struggles. He'll go on a scoring streak and everyone will forget how bad he is defensively, like he always does.

 

[Channelcat]

Those plays arent even bad for him. It gets much worse.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

The team is still in a massive transition period in terms of talent while also playing a mostly hyper-aggressive system that opens the floodgates on chances against. He'll get better after about a month or a month and a half. Karlsson also needs a better defensive partner than Brenden Dillon. He is just not top four caliber defensively. When Radim Simek returns, I'm sure the defensive play will improve. He may end up with Burns and Vlasic with Karlsson and hopefully both turn their games around when that happens.

 

[Mattb124]

Never mind the number of really impressive defensive plays Karlsson made last night.

 

[GeeoffBrown]

A small nitpick. The first two were turnovers, which I would not consider to be defending.

 

[Sens]

The yearly Karlsson sucks thread before he goes beast mode...

 

[BruinsBtn]

He has always been this bad. The Norris is a joke.

 

[Rhaegar Targaryen]

Haven’t Senators fans claimed for years that EK65 is a slow starter? He was pretty bad early last year as well and then went on a tear. If he’s playing like this in December I’ll be worried

He's been a slow starter some years, fast starter some years. Definitely a slow starter after injuries, though. And definitely stretches where he seems like he doesn't give a f*** defensively, like he did in those plays.

No doubt in my mind he'll bounce back and be a dominant force.

 

[Gecklund]

The entire team has been awful defensively. The entire team was much better in the third.

 

[TheBluePenguin]

EK has always been sub-par defensively, people only complain when he isnt putting up points. He is basically a 4th forward on the ice.

 

[Backcheckmonster3]

Standard karlsson