Is Erik Karlsson the Best Player in the NHL

Not "the" best player in the NHL, certainly one of many superstars. There so many who can claim that title but for now he may just be the best player. Let's see if McDavid, Crosby or Ovechkin can step up and top Karlsson.

Given the minutes he plays per game, he is untouchable. Ottawa is 8-1 when he registers a point.

Kilgore Trout said:

Erik Karlsson was utterly dominant against the Rangers all series and resembles Bobby Orr sometimes.
He plays almost half the game tonight and is plus 4 in plus/minus while playing against the other team's best players.

He is so intelligent and so calculating. To me, right now, he is the most valuable player in the NHL and the best performer in the NHL playoffs so far.
Ottawa can't survive without him; but, with him they have a real chance against whoever comes out of the Pittsburgh Washington series and make it to the Stanley Cup final.

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bobby orr? give your head a shake man. grant you, he,s not a bad hockey player.

Currently he's tied with Subban for the best player of these playoffs. What a study in contrast, the Swede plays with guile the Canadian plays with passion. When I was asked about the Subban trade I said it was a shit show, tinged with an undercurrent of racism.

So much for the Habs and their vaunted tradition.

If the 2008 draft could be done again, he'd go first or second overall for sure. Maybe Doughty first, and Karlsson second, but both of those guys would go before Stamkos in hindsight. What's really sad is that the Leafs could have drafted Karlsson or Roman Josi that year, but they chose Schenn instead. I love revisiting drafts.

Kilgore Trout said:

All I can say is that twice during this year's playoffs Donald S Cherry himself, during Coache's Corner, has compared Karlsson with Bobby Orr.

To me he is extremely perceptive and understanding of everything going on around him. He may be the smartest player in the NHL right now.
And no other player right now controls the game more than he does when he's on the ice. No one.
I think he is way under the radar of most hockey fans because he plays in Ottawa, and so he gets a lot less attention compared to if he played in a major hockey market.

Who in the NHL right now could have laid down a perfect saucer pass like this one. This pass has got to be 20 feet high and 150 feet long.
Best hockey pass I've ever seen.

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Bobby Orr could never have made that pass that Karlsson made when he played the game. Never!!!

Never, only because it would have been offside back in the day. Orr was special when he played as he redefined the role of defensemen. Karlsson is also a very special player but who is better taking into account the way the game is now played, especially with the rule changes and players from all over the world in the league. Makes for an interesting debate but I would choose Orr as being the better defenseman of all time, at least for now.

As to the best player in the NHL, I would take McDavid slightly over Crosby. His combination of speed and skill is unbelievable. Like Crosby, he makes all others around him better. Crosby, on the other hand, is highly skilled and is so strong on the puck. Watching him control the puck is amazing. It almost seems like the puck is attached to the blade of his stick. Karlsson is definitely in the top 5 of best players in the NHL, and definitely the best defenseman.

As a Leaf fan, would I trade Auston Matthews for Erik Karlsson one for one? Both play premium positions on their respective teams. The biggest difference is their age. Probably not as I place more value on a true number one center as opposed to a number one defensemen. It just seems harder to win a Stanley Cup without a legitimate number one center than a legitimate number one defenseman.

glamphotographer said:

Not "the" best player in the NHL, certainly one of many superstars. There so many who can claim that title but for now he may just be the best player. Let's see if McDavid, Crosby or Ovechkin can step up and top Karlsson.

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^^^This.
He is one among a select few and he's raised his game at the right time.

Discussing who is the best player is as pointless as discussing who is the best mpa. I will say that he is highly skilled, great skater and makes things happen. I haven't watched the playoffs in a few tears mainly because the on ice product got so boring, especially my favourite childhood team the Habs are barely watchable with their anemic offence. I have watched most of the senators game this playoff because his game is how hockey was meant to be played.

He's like neidermyer where everything is effortless. If you watch the goal he scored, he was cruising and zucharello was going to beat he'll and karlson was pulling away. The game is effortless to certain players.

And a hottie on his arm to boot.

checks said:

If the 2008 draft could be done again, he'd go first or second overall for sure. Maybe Doughty first, and Karlsson second, but both of those guys would go before Stamkos in hindsight. What's really sad is that the Leafs could have drafted Karlsson or Roman Josi that year, but they chose Schenn instead. I love revisiting drafts.

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Lol, this is laughable, take a 0 time Norris winner over a 2 time and prolly should win this year as burns faded and there is pressure to give it to a west defencmean, and burns is the perfect choice.

I would say he is the best right now as he controls games like no other.

i,d take burns over karrlsson , any day of the week. and doughty also.

I don't think either of them are playing still.lol!

Today NHL.com writers gave Karlsson 10/12 first place votes for the Conn Smythe award after the first 2 rounds of the playoffs. I totally agree!

According to Melnyk, Karlsson could barely walk after game 7 and had to be helped to the showers. If true, amazing how he can perform at such a high level but that is why he is one of the best in the NHL.

If I'm starting an NHL team, he's the 1st defenceman I'm taking, probably 2nd player (behind McJesus).

Canadians don't like to admit a non canadian might be the best player.

How Erik Karlsson the best player in the NHL ? give me a break

Who started this thread about Karlsson ?

The Sens will get knock off easy be the Pens lol

wazup said:

He's like neidermyer where everything is effortless. If you watch the goal he scored, he was cruising and zucharello was going to beat he'll and karlson was pulling away. The game is effortless to certain players.

And a hottie on his arm to boot.

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Comparing him to Scott Niedermayer is appropriate, as there are similarities between the two and Niedermayer was one of the best.