The love affair people still have with Erik Karlsson here is unreal. The more I watched him play this season, and this post season, the more I believe the trade was a good thing for this franchise. It is clear that his injuries are becoming a serious issue for him. Yes, he is still a great player in the NHL, and can still put up dazzling performances. Yet, he is no longer the Norris caliber player he used to be and that is a direct result of the multiple injuries he has sustained.
How many times do we have to keep hearing "Can you imagine how much better he would be if he wasn't playing injured?" "Yeah he's only playing OK right now, but thats because he obviously injured or recovering from an injury. We've been hearing that for 3 years now. THREE YEARS!
However, some team is going to sign this guy to a mega 7+ year deal for 11m or more per season. A couple years into that deal, and a couple more injuries and that team is going to start rethinking that decision.
Don't get me wrong EK65 will still be a good player in this league for a few more years, but we'll never see him at his Norris winning days again.
You’re surprised that a fanbase has a love affair with a defenseman who, by the age of 26, had won two Norris trophies, had put together one of the most impressive playoff performances this franchise has ever seen, and had an offensive skillset that was considered to be among all-time greats like Denis Potvin and Paul Coffey?
Really?
We always hear the, “In a few years the team will regret that contract” but when it comes to superstars, that’s hardly ever the case.
Chicago doesn’t regret signing Kane. Pittsburgh doesn’t regret signing Malkin and Crosby. Washington doesn’t regret signing Ovechkin. Philadelphia doesn’t regret signing Giroux.
You get into trouble when you give big money and term to borderline “at-the-time” top players like Ryan and Lucic.
Not when you sign superstars. What happened in Ottawa was unparalleled.
A team will give Karlsson 7 years at 10 million plus, and believe me, they won’t regret it, Just like Toronto won’t regret signing Tavares.
By the way, “good but not Norris trophy winning” Karlsson has 54 points in 60 games so far this season.
But sure, we're better off with Dylan Demelo, Chris Tierney and the hope that Josh Norris becomes a 2nd line center and Erik Brannstrom can one day QB an NHL powerplay.