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

[Hierso]

EK had a realistic case as a top 2 or 3 player in the league at his peak. Hedman is great and probably a top 2 or 3 dman in the league rn but not the same level as EK

I can't really think of any d-man i would rather have this season honestly. That being said i'd go with Karlsson, the man was a rocket on those skates before he got injured.

 

[MrOT]

EK ainec

 

[Voight]

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.

All while being average at best defensively.....

 

[Voight]

Hedman's run last year. No one has to agree with it but it was arguably the most dominant performance we've seen since guys like Lidstrom and Bourque

Strongly disagree. Post 2005 lockout era alone it competes against 2015 Keith and 2006 Pronger.

 

[Gurglesons]

Karlson dragged two teams to a conference finals.

 

[Fataldogg]

Karlsson was arguably the best player in the world at his peak. I pick him quite comfortably. That is no slight to Hedman whom I view as the best overall defense man in the NHL currently.

 

[I Hate Blake Coleman]

Karlson dragged two teams to a conference finals.

Sounds like he didn't win shit then

 

[Gurglesons]

Sounds like he didn't win shit then

Not sure what that has to do with the peak performance of both.

 

[Karl Eriksson]

Sounds like he didn't win shit then

Some Norrises

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I mean I would make time to watch sens games just to watch prime Karlsson play. I don’t think people “make time” to watch Hedman play, more so Tampa overall as they are arguably the best team in the league.

I voted EK but let's not confuse entertainment factor for effectiveness.

 

[Karl Eriksson]

I voted EK but let's not confuse entertainment factor for effectiveness.

Question was who was better. Not more entertaining.

 

[The Kingslayer]

EK.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Question was who was better. Not more entertaining.

Yes, that was my point. And I also pointed out I voted for EK. This is needless. Trace the quote back.

 

[Romang67]

Sounds like he didn't win shit then

Good thing the question wasn't which D-man has won the Stanley Cup. That would have made for quite the short-lived poll.

 

[MrOT]

This is all I have to say

 

[BlueMed]

This is all I have to say

I think what the video shows is that EK is gifted offensively but fortunate at the same time. Had EK played on a defensive-minded team like LA, STL, or Nashville during his tenure, there is no way those coaches would have let him loose like that and make those high-risk plays. As a defensemen attempting to dangle multiple guys in the neutral or offensive zone, if he turns it over, that's an odd man rush going the other way. I also wonder what Doughty would have been like if he played for a team that let him do whatever he wanted at all times.

 

[Imnotagoodposter]

I think what the video shows is that EK is gifted offensively but fortunate at the same time. Had EK played on a defensive-minded team like LA, STL, or Nashville during his tenure, there is no way those coaches would have let him loose like that and make those high-risk plays. As a defensemen attempting to dangle multiple guys in the neutral or offensive zone, if he turns it over, that's an odd man rush going the other way. I also wonder what Doughty would have been like if he played for a team that let him do whatever he wanted at all times.

The guy on one foot drove the 1-4 flaccid Guy Boucher trap senators to within one goal of the conference finals. He still took over games even on a defensive team.

 

[Erik Alfredsson]

I think what the video shows is that EK is gifted offensively but fortunate at the same time. Had EK played on a defensive-minded team like LA, STL, or Nashville during his tenure, there is no way those coaches would have let him loose like that and make those high-risk plays. As a defensemen attempting to dangle multiple guys in the neutral or offensive zone, if he turns it over, that's an odd man rush going the other way. I also wonder what Doughty would have been like if he played for a team that let him do whatever he wanted at all times.

Lmao that video is from the year he spent on a defensive system, and he excelled in it. Do you think Guy Boucher preached free-wheeling, end to end hockey?

 

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

Well this got awkward fast

You must have missed Karlsson's run or Keith's 15 run. Your comment was just very false, on many levels. I mean just look at the poll result. No one would be voting 77% EK if the belief that Hedman's run last year was unparalleled except to the legends was a common, or even slightly popular one.

 

[BlueMed]

Lmao that video is from the year he spent on a defensive system, and he excelled in it. Do you think Guy Boucher preached free-wheeling, end to end hockey?

No, but he obviously allowed it when many other coaches wouldn't tolerate it whatsoever.

 

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

No, but he obviously allowed it when many other coaches wouldn't tolerate it whatsoever.

His point still stands. He played on a very defensively structured team that year and was still able to do that because it did not jeopardize or remove from the effectiveness of the system, thus Ottawa reaching the finals.. on EK's back no less.

When you have a player like EK you don't tolerate or un-tolerate...you adapt around the Norris calibre D and top 3 player in the league(at that time).

 

[Sting]

Do you think Hedman on those Ottawa teams would have gotten them further to the Cup than Karlsson?

Ask yourself that question. Karlsson basically took that team on his back and carried them to one goal away from the Cup final.

The best forward he has played with his entire career has been Mark Stone (Alfy/Spezza were way past their primes when Karlsson broke in).

 

[Mulletman]

It's funny how everybody was putting Hedman over every other dman in the league right now by a wide margin when he won the Conn Smythe. Now he 's not even close to peak Karlsson. And peak Karlsson wasn't even close to Lidstrom at the time. And all non Swedish fans agreed that Lidstrom wasn't close to Bourque. And Bourque wasn't close to Bobby Orr. Seems like defensemen have only gotten worse and worse as the time goes on...

 

[Rhaegar Targaryen]

I couldn’t see Hedman ever able to pull off #1 or #3

 

[thadd]

Karlsson, but his peak didn't last long enough.