Chimpradamus
Registered User
Yes, I know, there is still a huge thread about the neverlasting celebrations with getting Karlsson, paired with some light analysis of various things as PP constellations and whatnot. But I want to talk serious business, sounding like a 17 year old street gangster. This is not about the conversation of joy about the player. This is a conversation about why I claim what I do in the headline.
Where we start is, who is Karlsson, really? I would recommend you - if you are a diehard hockey fan or a hockey nerd, which you should be close to be if you spend time on this site - to watch this 33 minute highlight video of his 16/17 season, the year before he had serious off-season surgery, missed the entire off-season, still played for a Mr Burns/ Uncle Scrooge budget team, his child was stillborn and he became involved in legal court, because of serious family harrassment, within the team. Nice.
Yes, his last season wasn't that great. He was just another pure top 5 defenseman at the shittiest year in his entire life. As for 2012: Losing his girlfriend and getting his achilles cut off, to lose his cheat codes just won't cut it for being the worst year in your life for this guy.
Anyway, here's the video. Never mind the overly loud chorous jedi music over the voices, when Karlsson plays, you can just assume every voice in the background just raves over how dominant and great he is:
Ok. He's ridiculous. So San Jose just got Karlsson. Now what? Well, you just got the defensive version of McDavid, in his own right. "Why did we get another star defenseman?" some doubted among Sharks fans? You didn't get another world class defenseman. You got Karlsson. You didn't get a defenseman. You got a player. Arguably the player in modern hockey. Skill, speed, mobility, vision. Physical aspects come last. Remind you of someone?
He is the best defenseman on the planet if he's in shape and motivated. He is right now, on both, guaranteed. He finally plays for a competitive team with good qualities, a luxury he has only experienced playing for his national team. He doesn't have the pressure every game, he can finally share it with others, but he will still try to be the pressure and draw the attention.
Defensively: He is, without a doubt, very solid in his own end, on his own merits. He isn't big and strong, those are his flaws, but his poke check is very sneaky, he will rarely lose his position, his backchecking is bar none, he can read the play and he is top notch at shot blocking. He's also a master at gaining control of pucks he already blocked. But here's the thing: he's not playing defense to defend, anyway. He plays to dominate the opposition, period. Chances are, you're not defending when you have Karlsson on the ice.
Offensively: Best in the business, bar none. He is extremely elusive, so he is basically never hit. He weaves, finds holes and just dances around like it's a sunday morning most games. He dekes 1-3 guys and there you go, automatic scoring chance or possession. He is the best in the world, bar none at getting the team out of the zone with the puck and has been so for his entire career. He dominates transition and he's elite at controlled zone entries. His vision is world class, his passing is world class, his mobility is world class and his shot is very good.
Mentally: When a franchise player announces the details of a very painful injury in the playoffs and still dominates the ice, I don't know what to tell you. You can prepare to stop him, but you really can't. He's very humble, doesn't throw cheap shots and shows great example. He shows charisma on and off the ice, when he has the puck, the opposition focuses on him. Great news for the Sharks first line.
Special teams: He can play very effective PK:ing, but often doesn't, just because he can't play 35 minutes a game. If he could, he would. It's not because he can't and isn't great at it. On the PP? Well, he's the best QB in the business, 5v5 or on the PP.
Effect on San Jose: He has just upgraded your team to another level. Paired with Vlasic, probably encouraged to just roam and do his thing? This could get nasty. He has off nights, sure, everyone has. But consistently speaking, he's very consistent at dominating the ice, let's just put it that way. He has been the best player on the ice most nights, regardless of which teams are on the ice. Ottawa? Sweden? Karlsson. And he's just entering his prime, skill wise.
If he can carry a flawed budget team on his shoulders to a conference final, he sure as hell can help the burden to make a playoff team a true contender.
Where we start is, who is Karlsson, really? I would recommend you - if you are a diehard hockey fan or a hockey nerd, which you should be close to be if you spend time on this site - to watch this 33 minute highlight video of his 16/17 season, the year before he had serious off-season surgery, missed the entire off-season, still played for a Mr Burns/ Uncle Scrooge budget team, his child was stillborn and he became involved in legal court, because of serious family harrassment, within the team. Nice.
Yes, his last season wasn't that great. He was just another pure top 5 defenseman at the shittiest year in his entire life. As for 2012: Losing his girlfriend and getting his achilles cut off, to lose his cheat codes just won't cut it for being the worst year in your life for this guy.
Anyway, here's the video. Never mind the overly loud chorous jedi music over the voices, when Karlsson plays, you can just assume every voice in the background just raves over how dominant and great he is:
Ok. He's ridiculous. So San Jose just got Karlsson. Now what? Well, you just got the defensive version of McDavid, in his own right. "Why did we get another star defenseman?" some doubted among Sharks fans? You didn't get another world class defenseman. You got Karlsson. You didn't get a defenseman. You got a player. Arguably the player in modern hockey. Skill, speed, mobility, vision. Physical aspects come last. Remind you of someone?
He is the best defenseman on the planet if he's in shape and motivated. He is right now, on both, guaranteed. He finally plays for a competitive team with good qualities, a luxury he has only experienced playing for his national team. He doesn't have the pressure every game, he can finally share it with others, but he will still try to be the pressure and draw the attention.
Defensively: He is, without a doubt, very solid in his own end, on his own merits. He isn't big and strong, those are his flaws, but his poke check is very sneaky, he will rarely lose his position, his backchecking is bar none, he can read the play and he is top notch at shot blocking. He's also a master at gaining control of pucks he already blocked. But here's the thing: he's not playing defense to defend, anyway. He plays to dominate the opposition, period. Chances are, you're not defending when you have Karlsson on the ice.
Offensively: Best in the business, bar none. He is extremely elusive, so he is basically never hit. He weaves, finds holes and just dances around like it's a sunday morning most games. He dekes 1-3 guys and there you go, automatic scoring chance or possession. He is the best in the world, bar none at getting the team out of the zone with the puck and has been so for his entire career. He dominates transition and he's elite at controlled zone entries. His vision is world class, his passing is world class, his mobility is world class and his shot is very good.
Mentally: When a franchise player announces the details of a very painful injury in the playoffs and still dominates the ice, I don't know what to tell you. You can prepare to stop him, but you really can't. He's very humble, doesn't throw cheap shots and shows great example. He shows charisma on and off the ice, when he has the puck, the opposition focuses on him. Great news for the Sharks first line.
Special teams: He can play very effective PK:ing, but often doesn't, just because he can't play 35 minutes a game. If he could, he would. It's not because he can't and isn't great at it. On the PP? Well, he's the best QB in the business, 5v5 or on the PP.
Effect on San Jose: He has just upgraded your team to another level. Paired with Vlasic, probably encouraged to just roam and do his thing? This could get nasty. He has off nights, sure, everyone has. But consistently speaking, he's very consistent at dominating the ice, let's just put it that way. He has been the best player on the ice most nights, regardless of which teams are on the ice. Ottawa? Sweden? Karlsson. And he's just entering his prime, skill wise.
If he can carry a flawed budget team on his shoulders to a conference final, he sure as hell can help the burden to make a playoff team a true contender.
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