Thoughts on Erik Karlsson

It's been a while since I've written a post. This one is just to get my thoughts out about Erik Karlsson! For the record, I had no doubts about this guy. I did question bringing him up from the start of the seaqson, as I felt like he wasn't at a level where he could compete...

Luckily, I have been proven wrong. Bryan Murray chose to stick to his guns and keep the young Swede woth the big club and let him play through his woes. And earlier in the season with a whopping -10 iot looked like a huge mistake. But since Christmas, he has stayed consistently on the positive side of the +/- collumn and has not ceased to impress me with hsi ability to move the puck. People compared him to Niklas Lidstrom, and they are right! First of all, the kid can blast it! He can shoot like nobody's business! (Hitting the net, is another story altogether!) But he reminds me of Lidstrom in terms of how hard he can shoot!

He also reminds me of Bobby Orr. Or, in more modern terms Brian Rafalski. He can carry the puck through the neutral zone, into the offensive zone, circle the net and set-up a cycle (or shoot) with complete ease! He's so strong on hsi skates, and has the puck on a string. (I think that's the Kovalev effect.) But on his skates, he doesn't lose balaance and doesn't fall over. He reminds me of sidney crosby along the boards, because he's pretty small as hockey plaerys go (5'11" 175 lbs) but try as they might players can't knock him onto his butt without takign a penalty! I think that's something he was told... "since you don't have size on your side, you better sure as hell make sure you can't fall over!" And it's working!

He only has one goal, but the goals will come. He's setting up incredible offensive zone cycles and Quaterbacking a blueline that's had serious issues. He's been apired with Chris Phillips at times who is the prototype stay-at-home Defensive Defensman and it's helped him settle down hsio defensive game. it's still not there yet, but... much liek Jason Spezza he will be asked to make plays and be a high risk Offensive blue liner so he will throw some turnovers... and that's fine!

With the strong play of Karlsson, and the coming of Cowen next year... I've got a feeling that The A-Train, the Crushin' Russian, Anton Volchenkov may be on his way out of Ottawa... he took a discount to stay on his last contract. I don't think Ottawa has the room for him, and quite frankly don't think he's ready to settle for less than he can make! Sad to say... cuz he's such a stable of the defense and a fan favourite! But that's the way the business goes sadly!