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

[joe dirte]

Still not understanding a word of what I'm saying, missing the point completely

Listen: Prime Karlsson was either a part of a system where he focused mostly on offense and putting up historical numbers (no you can't compare 72 points by Hedman in a completely different scoring environment with Karlsson being 4th in league scoring with 82 while also leading his team in points - first since Orr to do that) with less defensive responsibilities, or a great 2-way Dman, while not historical offensively, still top 2 in D-man scoring. He could do both depending on the system. Hedman is slightly better defensively than Karlsson at his best while being a country mile behind at offense.

Hedman is not slightly better than Karlsson defensively. He's light years better. Karlsson is not a country mile ahead at offense (at his best), he is a little bit better.

Hedman doesn't, as YOU say "focus on offense, ALL offense, only offense" to the point of leading the league in on ice goals against, and cause an increase in goals against on his own team... i.e. more goals against relative to his team, every year but one in Ottawa (and that one year was basically even).

 

[acrobaticgoalie]

Karlsson was a crazy skilled D man and one of the top players in the league but if I was building a team, I would rather have the guy who gets 10-15 less points but is an absolute beast in his own end. Hedman is just a better all around player

 

[Pyrophorus]

EK65....not close

 

[MrOT]

Hedman is not slightly better than Karlsson defensively. He's light years better. Karlsson is not a country mile ahead at offense (at his best), he is a little bit better.

Hedman doesn't, as YOU say "focus on offense, ALL offense, only offense" to the point of leading the league in on ice goals against, and cause an increase in goals against on his own team... i.e. more goals against relative to his team, every year but one in Ottawa (and that one year was basically even).

Still missing the point

 

[joe dirte]

Karlsson was a crazy skilled D man and one of the top players in the league but if I was building a team, I would rather have the guy who gets 10-15 less points but is an absolute beast in his own end. Hedman is just a better all around player

Yup.

Some people here just dont get this point though.

 

[authentic]

How does Sweden develop such good defensemen I wonder

 

[Fatty McLardy]

This is Karlsson.

some people are forgetting how good Karlsson was at his peak. That's no slight to Hedman, who I consider the best D-man in the league right now. But Karlsson was just that great.

 

[Iapyi]

Hedman's all-around game dwarfs Karlsson.

 

[Hockey4Life91]

Peak Ranking

Karlsson Offense: 100
Karlsson Defense: 80

Hedman Offense: 90
Hedman Defense: 100

If this is a question about overall impact, the answer is Hedman. If, however, the question is regarding offense, points, or entertainment, it is Karlsson.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

its karl and its not even close tbh

 

[elitepete]

Karlsson ainec. And I say this as someone who thinks Hedman is the best d and a top 5 player right now.

Karlsson was a top 2 player on the planet.

 

[elitepete]

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.

Ah, yes. Karlsson doesn’t make his team better. Rational take right here.

 

[crowi]

Karlsson very clearly.

 

[MightySelanne8]

The disrespect Karlsson has received over the years on this board is laughable. You could argue Karlsson was a top2 player in the world at his peak, you cant say that about Hedman.

 

[Eternal Leaf]

Karlsson in his prime was playing like a generational player. It's clearly him.

 

[Mobiandi]

No one could do what prime Karlsson could. The league desperately misses a guy like him. Maybe Dahlin can fill those shoes

There have been and there'll be plenty of players like Hedman until the end of time. Players that influence a game like Karlsson are so much more rare.

 

[TheMule93]

Imagine giving prime Karlsson the supporting cast that Hedman currently has. He'd be putting up Bobby Orr numbers.

 

[Stuzchuk]

may be pure homerism but Karlsson was part of the 2010 all decade team to me, so I easily say Karlsson

 

[The Macho King]

Imagine giving prime Karlsson the supporting cast that Hedman currently has. He'd be putting up Bobby Orr numbers.

Nah you have to play defense in Tampa.

 

[BAM]

Nah you have to play defense in Tampa.

Prime Karlsson went ppg over a season with Mark Stone, Bobby Ryan and Mike Hoffman as the 3 best forwards on his team...it doesn't matter what defence Tampa plays, going from those forwards to Kucherov, Stamkos and Point will at the very least keep him at ppg.

 

[golffuul]

Karlsson could dominate games with his play, in his prime. I’m still sad that Matt Cooke was able to exist in the NHL long enough to ruin so many peoples’ careers.

 

[TGWL]

Injuries and not wanting to do any off-season training derailed Karlsson's elite play on the ice. When at his best, he was a game changer on the ice, nearly every shift.

 

[CTZ181]

Defensive prowess will always be underrated. Hedman.

 

[Eisen]

To me, it's Karlsson very clearly.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Imagine giving prime Karlsson the supporting cast that Hedman currently has. He'd be putting up Bobby Orr numbers.

Sorry no, that's not how it works. As we discussed when the trade happened and people were suggesting it was 90 point season time, he went to San Jose and him and Burns split points instead.

On a better team the offense isn't flowing through solely one guy no matter how good, and frankly Hedman is a good comparison in this case because Tampa shows that.

Karlsson is absolutely the offensive lightning rod and instant offense and can do things like that on a shit team but when he's a cog in the machine rather than the machine itself he suffers the same fate as many others, the offense spreads out a lot more, even if there's a clear leader.

Reminder that I voted for Karlsson before the fan club pinatas me again.