Photo by Phillip MacCallum/Getty Images North AmericaTo start, let’s get one thing perfectly clear: any lame attempt to compare the magnitude of Erik Karlsson’s recent injury against Sidney Crosby’s battle with concussion-related health issues over the past two seasons is pure hyperbole.
(It may also be the mark of insanity.)
Both are good players, but only one of them is the world’s best.
At 25 years of age, Crosby has amassed an impressive 629 points (229 goals, 400 assists) in 448 career NHL games. Along the way, he’s collected six major individual awards: the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy (2010), the Art Ross Trophy (2007), the Lester B. Pearson Trophy (2007), the Hart Memorial Trophy (2007) and two Mark Messier Leadership Awards (2007, 2010). He’s set a number of NHL records as well, including the youngest captain in league history to win the Stanley Cup. That’s not an easy feat. It speaks to both his individual talent and the degree of respect that he commands in the dressing room.
Alongside his Stanley Cup ring, you’ll find a World Junior gold medal and an Olympic gold medal.
Karlsson, in comparison, has a very respectable 159 points (43 goals, 116 assists) in 230 career NHL games. He has two major individual awards to his name: the James Norris Memorial Trophy (2012) and the Viking Award (2012; awarded annually to the best Swedish player in North America). Aside from setting some franchise records for the Ottawa Senators, however, no other major accolades appear on Karlsson’s resume.
Thus, the stats alone appear one-sided in favour of Crosby.
Of course, it can be argued that Karlsson has shown the most year-over-year improvement, going from 26 points (5 goals, 21 assists) in 2009-2010 to 78 points (19 goals, 59 assists) in 2011-2012, but this argument is overshadowed by the fact that Crosby “delivered” in his first NHL season despite playing under the unenviable twin spotlights of high expectations and widespread doubt: he tallied 102 points (39 goals, 63 assists) in his rookie campaign at the tender age of 18. (Unfortunately, as we all know, it was controversial Russian rock star Alexander Ovechkin who captured the Calder Memorial Trophy that season with 106 points (52 goals, 54 assists) at the slightly older age of 20.)
It can also be objected that the two stars play completely different positions and that, therefore, any comparison is inappropriate. I agree with this argument, and it’s important to keep in mind that I don’t think an honest comparison is possible. Having said this, it can be countered that center is the most important position in hockey. It requires a strong balance between offence and defence. Control of the game from the face-off onward is a key part of any centerman’s job and this is another area where Crosby shines. Aside from playing center, however, Crosby has shown tremendous versatility in anchoring the Penguin’s power play and penalty kill (two roles traditionally reserved for a team’s best defenceman) and has even dabbled in net on occasion (albeit outside the NHL and off the ice).
I’m not convinced you get anything near the same degree of versatility from Karlsson. He might be a two-dimensional defenceman, giving you a good mixture of offence and defence, but he’s one-dimensional when it comes to playing any other position. Thus, in terms of dictating the flow of the game, this can be added to Crosby’s column.
Crosby’s case is aided by the fact he’s missed so much hockey due to injury over the past two seasons. It appears that he’s finally put these troubles behind him and has returned to his regular 1.4 points-per-game career average. Many NHL players lose some of their luster after a critical absence and here it will be important to see how Karlsson rebounds from his injury.
The type of injury suffered by both players is equally relevant. Crosby fell victim to a nasty head injury at the height of the NHL’s “concussion epidemic”. The future of his career was immediately put in doubt and this surely would have affected the entire sport. The NHL and various sponsors have built entire advertising campaigns around Crosby so his permanent loss would have left the NHL without a true league-wide star.
On the other hand, Karlsson’s injury was freak and unfortunate, but it’s not one that threatens the long-term status of his playing career and it certainly doesn’t represent a threat to the league or the ongoing safety of others players.
It cannot be denied that Karlsson’s loss will affect his team. There’s a good chance the Senators won’t make the playoffs this season given the parallel loss of Jason Spezza. Nonetheless, his injury is unlikely to grab the ongoing attention of the hockey world in the same way Crosby’s injury seemed to dominate 24-hour hockey coverage. The Karlsson injury will likely be forgotten outside of Ottawa in a week’s time when the hockey world returns its focus to the brewing goalie controversy in Vancouver.
In short, Karlsson is not filling arenas or turning channels on a league-wide basis. He might be breaking hearts in Ottawa, but this is a far cry from representing some type of significant loss to the sport of hockey as a whole.
If there’s one positive, Karlsson’s injury might force the Senators to rethink the current strength of their team. They have a number of players who are unlikely to return next season (Daniel Alfredsson and Sergei Gonchar fall into this category) while they have some redundant players who are exceeding expectations right now (Craig Anderson falls into this category). It might make sense to flip these players to playoff-bound teams and continue to build a strong core of young players led in part by Karlsson for next season. This is just a thought anyway – there’s no point in letting movable assets waste away.
It makes little sense to compare the losses of Crosby and Karlsson, and it makes just as little sense to compare the talents of Karlsson against those of Bobby Orr, Denis Potvin or Paul Coffee. Orr revolutionalized the role of defencemen, Potvin was the anchor on the dominant New York Islanders teams of the late 1970s and early 1980s, and Coffee is one of the most gifted offensive-defencemen in NHL history, setting a league record for most goals by a defencemen in 1985-1986 with 48 sweet ones that still stands today.
At least, it makes little sense to draw such comparisons at this point in Karlsson’s young career.
A better comparison can be found in Washington Capitals’ rearguard Mike Green. Both players put up nearly identical stats in their first three full seasons at the NHL level – Karlsson secured 149 points (37 goals, 112 assists; -19) while Green secured 141 points (51 goals, 90 assists; +20). A number of injuries have since set Green’s career back, but it’s important to remember that at the time of his meteoric rise to the top of the NHL there was considerable talk of him dominating the defensive category for years to come and anchoring Team Canada’s power play well into the future. In this sense, how Karlsson responds to his injury might be what sets him from Green and (perhaps) puts him on a course towards the greatness of an Orr, Potvin, Coffee or even Crosby.
Selective memories and biased viewpoints are no excuse for failing to see the true trajectory of a player.
To paraphrase fellow Fighting for Stanley writer Andrew Sykes, a “real” hockey fan would know the difference and a “real” hockey writer would check his emotions – and the excessive hyperbole – at the proverbial door.
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who would compare me to Sid? even im not that dum!
I think one of the other writers was trying to stretch a point or something. I agree with this one
1. Why on earth are you comparing a forward and defenceman based on their point production? I’m also not sure why you are comparing them in the first place because I never did that once in my article. I simply said that Karlsson ‘was being considered the best player in the league by many.’ If you don’t pay enough attention to the NHL outside of Toronto to know that then I really can’t help you out. Like I said, I didn’t just come out and say that because thats what I believe, in fact, I never said once that I think he is the best player or better than Crosby. I said he is being ‘considered the best as well as being one of the best players to watch.’
2. “In short, Karlsson is not filling arenas or turning channels on a league-wide basis. He might be breaking hearts in Ottawa, but this is a far cry from representing some type of significant loss to the sport of hockey as a whole.”
-are you seriously that clueless of how much he is respected around the league? This is a player that anyone would pay to watch and he absolutely IS a seat-filler as you suggest he isn’t. If you fail to see that then myself and others can’t exactly take you seriously. Why do you think he was booed everytime he got the puck when he played in Winnipeg, because they hate him that much? No they booed him because he is one of the best players in the game, a sincere form of flattery reserved for the best.
“He’s playing 30 minutes a game, a Norris Trophy winner, arguably the best player in the League. It’s obviously a big loss — but like every injury, it’s somebody’s opportunity,” coach paul MacLean said Wednesday night.”
“I feel horrible for Erik Karlsson, I feel bad for Ottawa,” Penguins GM Ray Shero told ESPN.com on Thursday morning. “It’s a bad feeling. Our fan base knows how it feels to lose a star player. It’s emotional. I know how it feels like. It’s just very unfortunate.
-I am absolutely positive that Mike Green’s coach, other team’s GM’s, or any of all the respected hockey analysts that have recently suggested Karlsson might be the best in the league, never once said the same thing about Mike Green. When he had his couple big point years it was known that he was purely an offensive defenceman who benefitted from being on a team with tremendous talent up front. He was a point-producer but not a complete defenceman and thats why he never got a sniff of the Norris. If Karlsson was like Green, as you say, he would have never won the Norris over dominant defenders like Chara and Weber. If the voters thought the same as you then they would have never voted him for the Norris. But they did because he is nothing like Green. No he isn’t a physical player but he is a complete defenceman who controls the game as good or better than anyone in a long time. So no, the Green comparison is painfully not even close and anyone who follows the ENTIRE league would laugh at a rediculous comparison.
3. I really enjoyed how you paraphrased something I said in a comment at the end of your article. Really professional. You are on your way to the top doing stuff like that…
Sigh. It’s time to leave your Ottawa time bubble. See the title of your article – a comparison is explicit. You should drop the issue just like the Sens should drop their playoff hopes. (What’s with all the censorship? I cannot say this, I cannot say that. Cannot you simply stand by what you said?)
The average fan in Dallas, Los Angeles and Columbus will have some sense of Crosby and his absence would likely affect their interest. Hence, my reference to “league-wide” impact. It may be difficult, but try to keep up with the conversation. The same fans are likely to ask, “Karlsson who?” This is why you should check your gross exaggerations. Karlsson is key to the Sens’ season, but his absence will hurt little else.
For your info, I am the furthest thing from an Ottawa Senators fan. I know its hard for you to imagine, but there are people who appreciate hockey in general.
Have you not seen the buzz that his injury has created? Every sports network in Canada has had it as the top story ever since it happened. Hockey isn’t even on the radar in those cities that you mentioned. They could care less if God himself got injured while playing in the NHL so using those cities to try and prove your point is absolutely useless.
For… the… last… time… Please, please, try to keep up. In your one-sided article, you claimed that the loss of Karlsson affects the whole league. Believe it or not, those cities have teams in the league! Their fans are unlikely to care about Karlsson and the rest of the hockey world will stop paying attention in a week. That was my original point, and I’m not sure why you keep shifting your story. Your headline alone draws a comparison between the two hockey players! Whether you want to accept it or deny it, you’re not the only hockey fan in the world. To claim that this injury affects the whole league, you need to factor in fans from the same cities you dismiss. Only the injury of Crosby could affect the league on such a scale.
Andrew, buddy! stick to ur story! pawned!
agree 110%!
[...] other hockey news, you may have heard that the Ottawa Senator’s Erik Karlsson – arguably the “best” player in the [...]
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1529084-what-erik-karlssons-loss-means-to-the-ottawa-senators-and-the-nhl-as-a-whole
“Karlsson is a generational talent as a premier offensive defenseman, and he’s one of the few blueliners that does something every night that makes you jump out of your seat. He is by far the most exciting defenseman in the world, there’s no debate.
“His skating, ability to join the rush and score goals and overall playmaking skills (passing, vision, hands) make him must-see TV each night. Karlsson is the kind of player that fills seats at every arena because his offensive ability is so fun to watch.”
Wooooo suck it!! Good luck trying to find someone else besides you that would compare Karlsson to Mike Green. You’re lost and clueless bud!! Go write another mindless “Leafs Questions” after each game
Wooooo can’t wait for your Leafs Questions tonight. It is bound to be a thriller, cause you know, its so exciting to disect a team game after game just like 5 million other fans who claim to know hockey just because they watch and are fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Are you going to ask “since when did Frazer McClaren become such a sniper?” because you no doubt consider him to be that now. Or maybe you’ll ask the question that I know you are dying to ask–”has Dion Phaneuf become a better defenceman than Erik Karlsson?” hey why not toss Mike Kostka into the mix, or perhaps big Marky Fraser
As should be evident by now, everyone is entitled to their own view, including the blog post you cite. Accept the fact that not everyone will agree with you, and that others are entitled to their own views.
What is it that you right again? Oh, yeah. Over dramatized opinion pieces that you defend with the confidence of a sensitive man. Good luck.
Well I think at this point in their career’s Crosby is definitely the better player. However, it could be argued who has more impact on their teams.
You are correct the average fan in Dallas, Los Angeles and Columbus will have some sense of Crosby and his absence would likely affect their interest.
However, would Crosby be that well known if he played for Ottawa. If Karlsson played for the NY Rangers or Pittsburgh, Philadelphia would he be more of a superstar in the U.S.? Would he be more well known?
Eric Karlsson doesn’t sell tickets in other buildings like Crosby. Last time I checked nobody is interested in showing up to watch a defensive star.
Nobody isnt a interested in watching a defensive star you say? Well, then your hockey interests are definitely out of whack. He’s the furthest thing from just a “defensive star” I guess no one was interested in watching Bobby Orr, Potvin, Bourque, Coffey, Lidstrom etc. either then..
From Mark Sutcliffe, Ottawa Citizen—”Karlsson isn’t just someone who helps the Senators score goals and win hockey games. He’s a member of an exclusive group of players who are so exciting to watch that fans buy tickets just to see them play.
As the argument above and elsewhere went, I’m not sure you can put Karlsson in the same category of defencemen as those others at this point in his career. Green is a better comparison given Karlsson’s stats and promise, but it’ll be how he recovers from the injury that distinguishes him from Green – a series of injuries have limited Green’s career. You seem to have a short and selective memory when it comes to Green at the height of his career.
In the simplest terms, people are not gathering in masses to watch Karlsson. People who are away of him can appreciate his talents, but the average fan will likely respond, “Who’s Karl’s son?”
May be it’s time to let this issue rest, Andrew? People are entitled to their own views after all.
Hey, at least the Sens get to re-assess their team now. Judging my how good they looked tonight his injury was a real blessing in disguise…Were you drunk when you said that?
Is this directed at moi? So much Venom here…who does this guy write for again? Maybe spend more time ‘Assessing’ the team you write for son, and less on what Leafs Writers are doing…just saying.
The “Battle of Ontario” or the “Battle for Ottawa” – whatever you call it, it’s sure caused a battle here! Two seasons ago (?) the Sens were out of the playoffs early and made the bold decision to ship Chris Kelly and Mike Fisher out of town. A similar sense of honesty could potentially help the team again. That’s the argument, take it or leave it.
EuJANE Melly the owner of the SENS weighs in
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Melnyk wondered why Cooke — who has been suspended five times — is allowed to play in the league. All this incident did was reinforce Melnyk’s thinking.
“This guy should be kicked … He doesn’t belong in the league. He belongs somewhere where the goons play,” said an emotional Melnyk. “Get him in the Central league. He can be a $60,000-a-year guy playing pick-up hockey there.
“The guy does not deserve … He’s got one purpose. I remember when this happened with Spezza. I said, ‘If these are the rules, I just want to know.’ We’ll play with the same rules. Make sure you have one or two goons whose job is to do this either intentionally or unintentionally.
________________
Goon hockey. HAHAHAHAH Chrissy Neil ran around the ice chasing Cooke afterwards. Goooonish behavior I might add
I don’t think there was any intention on Cooke’s part other than to strip the puck from Karlsson. The whole injury is unfortunate and freak, but even heavy critic Don Cherry came to Cooke’s defence.
This is a well written article by William Wilson. As a Leafs fan, he brings a realistic outsider view to the Ottawa hockey world. That said, the rush to compare Karlsson and Sid (which was what a lot of major media outlets were doing too) seems rash and overshadows what actually happened between Karlsson and Cooke (i.e. Cooke’s history, the NHL’s lack of desire to comment on why Cooke’s skate was raised, etc.)
I like this hockey site. Good heated debates. Great writing. Love reading articles by Will, Greg, Jeremy and especially Matt Mck. Good insight and great depth all around, dudes.