Karlsson of Sweden: Shut Down D?

[Agent Zub]

The only goal that he has been on the ice for in the last two best on best tournament was the 3 on 3 goal. That's ZERO regulation goals against in 10 games while also leading Team Sweden in scoring for both tourneys.

That's a stat line of
GP 10 G: 5 A: 7 P: 12 and a +6

Just super impressive that a defensive liability can go two straight tournaments without being scored on.

Karlsson of Sweden elite shut down D?

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[LeafChief]

His 'defensive play' on the Mackinnon goal on OT was something special to watch.

 

[urho]

Didn't both Aho and Laine just dangle through him? Couldn't score, tho, surprisingly for the Finns in this tournament...

 

[Rhaegar Targaryen]

People that actually watch him see he's not a defensive liability. It's only people that watch highlights and look at boxscores. No need for this thread, really. The majority knows he's the best defenseman in the world.

 

[Nithoniniel]

The only goal that he has been on for in the last two best on best tournament was the 3 on 3 goal. That's no regulation goals against in 10 games and has also led Team Sweden in scoring for both tourneys.

That's a stat line of
GP 10 G: 5 A: 7 P: 12 and a +6

Just super impressive that a defensive liability can go two straight tournaments without being scored on.

Norris favourite 2017?

The problem there is drawing conclusions on a very small sample size. Even playing the exact same way, a player will have 10-game periods of great stats and equal periods of awful stats.

With that said, one thing I've learned over my time here is that a lot of people have a very limited definition of defensive play. Often it becomes a question of being tough in the corners/in front of the net, and mistakes made on the breakout.

Karlsson to me has some holes in his defensive game, but he is overall very effective. He's terrific at defending the transition in the offensive zone, neutral zone and at the blueline. I've read that he's one of the most effective in the league at defending against controlled zone entries. Like many guys with great skating, he has the ability to contain players while maintaining stick positioning so they can't make dangerous passes. His overall positioning is good but spotty. He wins the puck by using his skating to establish body positioning, and with his terrific stick work. He's getting continuously better at tying up sticks in front of the net. He isn't as consistent in his defensive work as you'd like, but will likely get better in that regard with experience. His weakness is getting attacked with skill, honestly. He's a bit susceptible to being dangled. And finally, his breakout and transition game is the best. Any time you screw up offensively near him, the puck is gone.

All in all, he's pretty good both ways. To be honest, I find that his offensive side is a bit too lauded due to deployment and how central he is systemically to the Senators offense, while he gets way too much criticism for his defense.

 

[Gnashville]

The only goal that he has been on for in the last two best on best tournament was the 3 on 3 goal. That's no regulation goals against in 10 games and has also led Team Sweden in scoring for both tourneys.

That's a stat line of
GP 10 G: 5 A: 7 P: 12 and a +6

Just super impressive that a defensive liability can go two straight tournaments without being scored on.

Norris favourite 2017?

Do you have his ice time for those tourneys? You are unlikely to be scored on when you never kill penalties and are on the ice for every PP.

 

[Philadelphia Ducks]

The only goal that he has been on for in the last two best on best tournament was the 3 on 3 goal. That's no regulation goals against in 10 games and has also led Team Sweden in scoring for both tourneys.

That's a stat line of
GP 10 G: 5 A: 7 P: 12 and a +6

Just super impressive that a defensive liability can go two straight tournaments without being scored on.

Karlsson of Sweden elite shut down D?

I laughed

 

[Agent Zub]

I laughed

Hedman, OEL, Stralman are sooo much better right?

 

[Agent Zub]

His 'defensive play' on the Mackinnon goal on OT was something special to watch.

You mean where Sedin stopped skating on a play that should have been an easy two on one for Sweden?

 

[The Macho King]

Hedman, OEL, Stralman are sooo much better right?

Think at least Hedman and Stralman proved that enough when it counts.

 

[VictorLustig]

Our best player once again

 

[Rodzilla]

Think at least Hedman and Stralman proved that enough when it counts.

Like when?

They have been scored on a lot this tournament and weren't there in Sochi lol


And to the guy blaming Karlsson for the MacKinnon goal, hockey 101, Sedin was first on the puck and got caught and lost his battle, pretty clear to see.

 

[Spade]

The way I would describe Karlsson playing defense is "If it looks stupid but it works, then it isn't stupid".

He isn't a traditional defensively strong player because of his size and his mentality, but with his active hands and his ability to move the puck he is far from a liability. He makes mistakes like every other defenseman, but as a whole pushes the puck the other way at ridiculous levels.

I wouldn't put him up against Doughty or Hedman/Stralman defensively if it were a 1-on-1 scenario against a forward during practice, but in-game is a completely different story.

 

[Machinehead]

This isn't anything new. He's Ottawa's shutdown D.

 

[The Macho King]

Like when?

They have been scored on a lot this tournament and weren't there in Sochi lol


And to the guy blaming Karlsson for the MacKinnon goal, hockey 101, Sedin was first on the puck and got caught and lost his battle, pretty clear to see.

Ummm...

The NHL playoffs?

 

[LeafChief]

You mean where Sedin stopped skating on a play that should have been an easy two on one for Sweden?

I mean the play where had he been in his defensive spot, Mackinnon would not have had half an hour to dangle Lundqvist.

 

[Hale The Villain]

Ummm...

The NHL playoffs?

So Karlsson is to blame for not being able to show that he's good defensively in the playoffs like Stralman and Hedman?

Scary to think how good Karlsson would look defensively playing under a top 5 coach in Cooper in front of a top 5 goalie in Bishop. Not to mention how much more he'd produce playing with the likes of Stamkos, Palat, Kucherov, Johnson etc.... Guy would make the Norris his yearly participation trophy.

 

[Six Assets]

His 'defensive play' on the Mackinnon goal on OT was something special to watch.

1. It was during 3on3, which is all out offense. Only the Vancouver Cancuks defend in 3on3 OT. Sorry, but this isn't Vancouver. It's the World Cup.

2. Ironically, it was Vancouver's top line center that messed up a routine pass to the world's best offensive D. Karlsson was heading up the ice looking for a pass, which Henrik ****ed up.

 

[ClydeLee]

Why was this thread title edited to even more role disregarding

He does look better when playing 23 minutes in not all ice scenarios while Defensive defensemen take matchups in a coaches usage than a more fluid 28 minutes

 

[Agent Zub]

I mean the play where had he been in his defensive spot, Mackinnon would not have had half an hour to dangle Lundqvist.

There was absolutely no excuse for Sedin to not be first on the puck or at least to dive and knock it to Karlsson. That's what Karlsson was thinking and there's no reason to fault him for another players mistake.

 

[Sensinitis]

As usual, Swedish fans know who their best D was both defensively and offensively.

 

[izzy]

People that actually watch him see he's not a defensive liability. It's only people that watch highlights and look at boxscores. No need for this thread, really. The majority knows he's the best defenseman in the world.

How do either of those point to him being bad defensively. It's people who watch him who realize he gets walked constantly.

 

[Sky04]

Ummm...

The NHL playoffs?

Pretty bad logic considering the Lightning haven't won anything.

Karlsson is usually the best skater on his team during the regular season, playoffs and international tournaments.

Karlsson gets flack for the Mackinnon goal, Hedman was dreadful all game and him and Stralman got danced around 30 secs into the game

 

[Hale The Villain]

How do either of those point to him being bad defensively. It's people who watch him who realize he gets walked constantly.

It's the exact opposite actually. The people who watch him frequently think he's good defensively, or at the very least not bad. It's the people who watch only clips of his rather infrequent defensive blunders that think he gets walked constantly.

 

[Breakers]

You mean where Sedin stopped skating on a play that should have been an easy two on one for Sweden?

Easy 2 on 1 after like a 3 minute shift



they could hardly stand after that play