I have no doubt he can do it for at least two more years (not 110 points, but rather an elite offensive d-man in the league)



Worst circle jerk in the hockey community is that EK can't play D. He's far from a great shutdown guy, but he just needs to be capable when he's producing like this and maintaining possession. Drai and McDavid are worse at playing D than him but no one has a problem with that. It's about guys playing their roles. Pair him with a shutdown guy as San Jose has and it's not an issue.

Ummmmm, Drai and McDavid aren't Dmen.....what?

Over the past 10 seasons, Karlsson has averaged 1.34 P/60 at 5v5. The best season was 1.55 and the worst was 0.70. This season he's scoring at a 2.57 P/60 pace.
It won't last. Paying a ridiculous price for him just shows that you don't understand that the past informs the future. You're blinded by his crazy, unsustainable stats this season and can't see reason.

Who cares about his stats. You really think one player (who's not very good at defending) is going to lift this Oilers team to the Cup?

This isn't the NBA. For a team to spend assets like that on a completely overrated player is absurd. Holland is definitely stupid enough to do it though.

LOL, all the Karlsson talk has distracted everyone from your other terrible trades. Yamamoto for Gurianov? Not a chance Edmonton would consider that.

There's 5 people on the ice, and their centers. Are they not supposed to defend? That's why Boston wins games and Edmonton doesn't. They have forwards who play defense.

But Beyond that, it's the second part of what I said, it's their role to provide offense. That's why you'll pair a shutdown a guy with someone like EK.

Do you think pairing him with a "shutdown" DMan actually solves anything? That's NHL Network talk for "I have nothing else to contribute". The fact is, EK is really not a very good player (unless you like highlights), and he definitely isn't worth anything close to the trade posted above, and he most certainly won't help the Oilers play better defense, which you kinda need in order to win a Cup.

And btw, Boston wins yes, because their forwards play defense; but they really win because Bergeron and Krejci are making a combined $3.5M a year and that really helps with filling the rest of their roster.

Boston, you have a point but not Tampa

LMAO Even though I disagree with you, I can see your concern with some of these points. But with the " The fact is, EK is really not a very good player (unless you like highlights)" comment, you're outing yourself as having never watched EK play a single game. I'm not sure you even watch hockey at all with that BS.

I mean this years norris winner is someone that could easily lift them to win the cup.

I can guarantee when Karlsson is playing like a god again next year, some idiots will still be saying he can't keep it up.

How are the only two sides of this either EK sucks or he’s gonna continue this elite play? I know it’s a divisive forum at times and the cost to acquire is high but it’s crazy to me how far apart the two sides are in this thread..

There is a big difference between "Karlsson isn't even playing well, and will be trash extremely soon" versus "Karlsson is playing amazing, and will keep that up for at least the next few years"

I agree but that’s not what a lot of the comments are in this thread 😂

I’ve got my popcorn

What the heck does being a Norris winner mean in regards to winning a cup?

Hint: it means nothing.

EK is flashy player. He's obviously a skilled player. But he's drooled over by people who don't really understand the game (and the talking heads of course). Bottom line, he's not worth a major haul, especially at that absurd cap hit.

He's Bobrovksy, but on D.

So all the fans, all the analysts, all the commentators, all his peers, everyone in the hockey community knows that Erik Karlsson is one of the best puck-moving d-man in the league (dare I say of all-time, without your head blowing up?) but you know better then everyone else. You understand the game better then even the analytics community AND the people who trust the eye test.

Man the ego on you

You’re right because everyone defensemen is casually on pace to put up 110 points right? The stupidity in your comment is absurd.

He's never before scored like this, the odds of him doing it again are slim to none.

he's having an elite season, he's an unreliable player. just saying its not smart for the p=oilers to add the cap hit. if they can add EK at a lesser cap hit sure I love it. it scares me though with him being 32, hard to keep this pace up at older age for some people. if he's half of what he is this year the next three, make the trade. but San Jose will have to retain like 5.5 million to make a deal with the oilers. and obviously thats not what San Jose is going to do. I think he's an elite d man again, but let's look at it as unbiased fans. he's elite, but will not contribute at this pace again. if he does I will eat my shorts.

Find me a defenseman making 6 mil that is at the level of Karlsson. 11.5 is a big cap hit, but he's easily worth 8-8.5 cap hit. Having EK at a sub 8 cap hit is criminal

Especially with the cap going up over the next few years

For real, that's why I'm definitely ok with the Sharks retaining as well. And I'm ok with a smaller return if they only retain a bit. But to expect 4+ mil in retention AND a weak return makes no sense

you won't... thats the point... overpay....

Way to continue to not understand what I'm saying lol