Erik Karlsson became the first defenseman in 30(!) years to reach 100 points in the NHL.
Now experts highlight an even more powerful figure – and rage against the criticism against him.
“It’s completely crazy,” writes Sportsnet’s Justin Bourne.
It’s hard not to be impressed by what Erik Karlsson has done this season. After a few years where he was sawed and mocked, and did not come up to a normal level at all, he has finally been injury-free for a whole year. And then so have the results – to say the least! – arrived.
Highlights the incomparable numbers
Erik Karlsson became the eleventh Swede in history to reach 100 points in one and the same season, and of course that becomes even more impressive given that he is a back. In fact, no defenseman has reached 100 points in the NHL in 30(!) years, and it’s a feat only five players in total have accomplished before.
But it is, believe it or not, not only positive voices about the Swede. Many have seen him as the clear favorite to be awarded the award as the best defenseman in the NHL, but many have argued that Karlsson is too weak defensively to win the award. Many have also said that Karlsson was given way too much free rein in the offensive, and that it didn’t matter that he is deplorable defensively. Karlsson’s plus/minus statistics are not exactly at the top of the league, but now several experts rage against the criticism.
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“Completely crazy”
Several now say with all clarity that the criticism against Karlsson is unfair, and many also highlight even more impressive numbers about the star. For example: Erik Karlsson is first in the list of points in five-on-five games this season. In total, there were 64 points, while Connor McDavid, who leads the points league completely superior, has only 59.
“It’s completely crazy,” writes Sportsnet’s Justin Bourne.
Jackie Redmond, who works at NHL Network and NHL on TNT, is on the same track:
“If Erik Karlsson doesn’t win the Norris, it’s a complete scandal. Stop all the nonsense, Erik Karlsson must win,” she writes.
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