Karlsson vs Hedman: Who was the better defensemen at their best?

[slapKing]

As the title says above. 2 incredible defensemen at their absolute best. But which dman was the better one at their best?

Click to read more...

 

[AB13]

Prime Karlsson is one of the top 3 defencemen I have ever seen.

 

[amnesiac]

EK, was top 3 player in the league on the Sens

 

[GermanSpitfire]

Hedman may not have reached it yet, but this is Karlsson.

 

[Machinehead]

Karlsson at his absolute peak was the best player in the NHL for a short time

 

[eli4spetterss0n]

Karlsson was a top 3 player in the league at point like other posters have mentioned above. You could argue Hedman is the 3rd best player right now behind McDavid & MacKinnon.

Also, who had the better playoff run? 2017 Karlsson or Hedman last year?

 

[Erik Alfredsson]

Karlsson at his peak was a very special player. I don't think Hedman has quite reached that, although he's still a HHOF dman. A part of me believes that we were robbed of what Karlsson could truly do. Had Cooke not stomped on him, he could've gone down with the Bourques and the Lidstroms.

 

[Fatass]

At his best who lead his team to the Cup, while winning the Conn Smyth?

 

[SouthWest]

Karlsson at his absolute peak was the best player in the NHL for a short time

11-17 Karlsson was incredible, he was 15th in scoring overall during those seasons combined, and that includes the aciles season where he only played 17 games, he was 12th leauge wide in points per game.... Even though it was only 19 games, I think he was the best player on the planet during that sens run.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Karlsson fam

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

At his best who lead his team to the Cup, while winning the Conn Smyth?

the one playing on the way better team?

Matt Murray has 2 cups and Lundqvist and Luongo have none.

 

[JackSlater]

I'd take Karlsson comfortably. Best defenceman of the last decade by a fair margin, though some injuries and curious voting results obscure that.

 

[Fatass]

the one playing on the way better team?

Matt Murray has 2 cups and Lundqvist and Luongo have none.

Lots of guys have multiple Cups that were only complementary pieces. However, we are comparing two great players. To me, what separates the greats is their ability to lead their teams to Cups. Hedman has the Cup, and the Smythe. Karlsson is great too, but that Cup and Smyth put Hedman ahead for me.

 

[TomasHertlsRooster]

Lots of guys have multiple Cups that were only complementary pieces. However, we are comparing two great players. To me, what separates the greats is their ability to lead their teams to Cups. Hedman has the Cup, and the Smythe. Karlsson is great too, but that Cup and Smyth put Hedman ahead for me.

When was Karlsson supposed the win the Cup and the Smythe

 

[abo9]

Lots of guys have multiple Cups that were only complementary pieces. However, we are comparing two great players. To me, what separates the greats is their ability to lead their teams to Cups. Hedman has the Cup, and the Smythe. Karlsson is great too, but that Cup and Smyth put Hedman ahead for me.

Now who was more instrumental to the success of his team? Hedman in 2020 or Karlsson in that Cup run?
I think people will remember Hedman's career as the better one, but if I'm going in the playoffs next year and I have the choice, I pick peak Karlsson.

 

[Fatass]

When was Karlsson supposed the win the Cup and the Smythe

Karlsson to me is like Dionne. Great players, who put up big numbers, but just didn’t get the Cup needed to be considered as great as some other guys.

 

[Fatass]

Now who was more instrumental to the success of his team? Hedman in 2020 or Karlsson in that Cup run?
I think people will remember Hedman's career as the better one, but if I'm going in the playoffs next year and I have the choice, I pick peak Karlsson.

Okay. I’m picking Hedman. Imo Hedman is a more complete player, who can bring meanness, and is a better leader. That’s just my view though. It’s not like EK wasn’t a fabulous player too.

 

[abo9]

Okay. I’m picking Hedman. Imo Hedman is a more complete player, who can bring meanness, and is a better leader. That’s just my view though. It’s not like EK wasn’t a fabulous player too.

Fair enough, they're honestly both the best defensemen of their generation/time overall. For all that matters in the long term I'd probably pick Hedman - he's just a rock lol

 

[Fatass]

Fair enough, they're honestly both the best defensemen of their generation/time overall. For all that matters in the long term I'd probably pick Hedman - he's just a rock lol

And if I’m buying a ticket to watch a player (in his prime) I’m definitely picking EK over Hedman.

 

[I Hate Blake Coleman]

Hedman is good at defending and always has been. I'm inclined to say the guy who makes his team better rather than the guy who padded his stats.

 

[Agent Zub]

Hedman is good at defending and always has been. I'm inclined to say the guy who makes his team better rather than the guy who padded his stats.

this line of thinking always makes me laugh. when Hedman and Doughty are on bad teams and struggling its because they were on bad teams but when Karlsson was struggling on a bad teams its cuz he was bad.

such logic

 

[Karl Eriksson]

Karlsson in his Ottawa days by a wide margin. He will never come close to that peak again sadly.

 

[Brown Cat]

Only Crosby and McDavid have completely taken over games the way Karlsson did in his prime. Hedman is a beast and is probably the top one NOW, but prime Karlsson is no laughing matter.

 

[I Hate Blake Coleman]

this line of thinking always makes me laugh. when Hedman and Doughty are on bad teams and struggling its because they were on bad teams but when Karlsson was struggling on a bad teams its cuz he was bad.

such logic

Who tf said that? I didn't. Speak for yourself.

 

[SouthWest]

this line of thinking always makes me laugh. when Hedman and Doughty are on bad teams and struggling its because they were on bad teams but when Karlsson was struggling on a bad teams its cuz he was bad.

such logic

It's always been bad for Karlsson like that, put him on an excellent team and what does he do? Well luckily we got to see him in the 2014 olympics, and he only tied for the tournament lead in scoring (all players) and won defenseman of the tournament....