If you say so....I suppose we should just take your opinion as the gospel because.......wait, why should we take your opinion as the gospel again?
- Jeropotato

<<<<< The beard.

No other defenseman/player in the league comes close to doing what he does consistently. That is top 5 material imo.
- Mordecai

by posisiton?

Centers:
Stamkos
Tavares
Toews
Giroux
Crosby

Wings:
Benn
Ovie
Kane
Nash
Voracek

Deefense:
Keith
Doughty
Karlsson
Hedman
Giordano

Goalies:
Lundqvist
Price
Quick
Rask
Bobrovsky

Karlsson is better than Nash, Voracek, Hedamn, Giordano, Bobrovsky and Rask, But that's it.

Look at who Malkin plays with. Karlsson plays with lesser talent and is still just as dominant. His advanced statistics are unbelievable as well.
- Mordecai

Malkin won the hart and 1 of his ross trophies with Crosby out most of the season

Individual trophies mean nothing when its a team sport and the individual is playing for a Championship team.
- TheCalSen

Ok. Cause, that's why nobody ever tries to win them.

Individual trophies mean nothing when its a team sport and the individual is playing for a Championship team.
- TheCalSen

Malkin 1 cup.. Karlsson ??? Keith 3 cups ... Karlsson???
Both have Conn Smyths...

by posisiton?

Centers:
Stamkos
Malkin
Toews
Giroux
Crosby

Wings:
Benn
Ovie
Kane
Nash
Voracek

Deefense:
Keith
Doughty
Karlsson
Hedman
Giordano

Goalies:
Lundqvist
Price
Quick
Rask
Bobrovsky

Karlsson is better than Nash, Voracek, Hedamn, Giordano, Bobrovsky and Rask, But that's it.
- blacksheep1

Youre ignoring the fact that Karlsson plays with significantly less talent. I think he is better and more valuable than almost everyone on that list excluding Crosby, Toews, Ovie, and arguably Stamkos.

Goalies are weird and i tend to rank them separately.

Youre ignoring the fact that Karlsson plays with significantly less talent. I think he is better and more valuable than almost everyone on that list excluding Crosby, Toews, Ovie, and arguably Stamkos.
- Mordecai

This is nonsense ... if you were starting a team you would take him over Perry, Malkin, Tavares, Getzlaf???? He's not better by any metric offensively!!!!


You would take Karlsson over Tavares???

This is nonsense ... if you were starting a team you would take him over Perry, Malkin, Tavares, Getzlaf???? He's not better by any metric offensively!!!!
- Brianandr1

I might take Tavares over him but yes I would take him before Getzlaf, Perry, and Malkin in a heartbeat. There is no other player like him in the league and he is only getting better.

This is nonsense ... if you were starting a team you would take him over Perry, Malkin, Tavares, Getzlaf???? He's not better by any metric offensively!!!!


You would tale Karlsson over Tavares???
- Brianandr1

The Tan man would.

I might take Tavares over him but yes I would take him before Getzlaf, Perry, and Malkin in a heartbeat. There is no other player like him in the league and he is only getting better.
- Mordecai

He's not better then Malkin... only Crosby averages more points per game... perhaps your Flyer fan eyes blind you? There is NO WAY HE"S BETTER THEN KEITH!!!! period!!!

He's not better then Malkin... only Crosby averages more points per game... perhaps you Flyer fan eyes blind you? There is NO WAY HE"S BETTER THEN KEITH!!!! period!!!
- Brianandr1

He is though. Keith plays on a championship team. Karlsson plays on a borderline bubble team and still performs at an elite level.

Crosby-Malkin-Letang

Toews-Kane-Hossa-Keith

Karlsson-Turris?-Ryan?

He makes his entire team signifigantly better by himself. That is incredible.

He is though. Keith plays on a championship team. Karlsson plays on a borderline bubble team and still performs at an elite level.

Crosby-Malkin-Letang

Toews-Kane-Hossa-Keith

Karlsson-Turris?-Ryan?

He makes his entire team signifigantly better by himself. That is incredible.
- Mordecai

Not arguing that he's not a great player...that analysis is completely unfair!!!! But if you want to view it that way.... again Malkin won a Hart and Ross minus Crosby most of the season... and Tavares???? You said yourself you would take Tavares over Karlsson... That makes him 6 and most would take Stamkos over him... Keith is much better all around (He's the best d man)

no particular order;

Weber
Doughty
OEL
Keith
Hedman/McDonough

Not arguing that he's not a great player...that analysis is completely unfair!!!! But if you want to view it that way.... again Malkin won a Hart and Ross minus Crosby most of the season... and Tavares???? You said yourself you would take Tavares over Karlsson
- Brianandr1

How is that unfair? I get what you're saying and I'm not trying to put any of those players down. I said I MIGHT take Tavares over him but it would be like choosing a Ferrari over a Lambo. Malkin won a Hart and Art Ross in 2012. Currently Karlsson is the more unique and (again) in my opinion the better more valuable player. It's cool that you don't agree. No disrespect.

How is that unfair? I get what you're saying and I'm not trying to put any of those players down. I said I MIGHT take Tavares over him but it would be like choosing a Ferrari over a Lambo. Malkin won a Hart and Art Ross in 2012. Currently Karlsson is the more unique and (again) in my opinion the better more valuable player. It's cool that you don't agree. No disrespect.
- Mordecai

I can respect this... I will say 2012 was not a unique case or that long ago... Malkin was 2 in the league last season in Points per game on a Pens team that struggled to score goals the last 30 games (and barely made the Playoffs)

As far as d is concerned, for one year:
keith, Doughty, Hedman and Weber over Karlsson... all are significantly better on d

Possibly: Letang, Subban Suter, Gio....

I don't see the same unique as you do

I can respect this... I will say 2012 was not a unique case or that log ago... Malkin was 2 in the league last season in Points per game on a Pens team that struggled to score goals the last 30 games (and barely made the Playoffs)
- Brianandr1

Malkin-Karlsson sounds like a good duo to start a team with

Malkin-Karlsson sounds like a good duo to start a team with
- Mordecai

Both are HOF... Its like comparing Ray Bourque to Stevie Y

I can respect this... I will say 2012 was not a unique case or that long ago... Malkin was 2 in the league last season in Points per game on a Pens team that struggled to score goals the last 30 games (and barely made the Playoffs)

As far as d is concerned, for one year:
keith, Doughty, Hedman and Weber over Karlsson... all are significantly better on d

Possibly: Letang, Subban Suter, Gio....

I don't see the same unique as you do
- Brianandr1

Well, if you really want to get into it. I personally don't think Weber is top 5 anymore. I don't have the energy to get into that discussion tonight but yeah

Well, if you really want to get into it. I personally don't think Weber is top 5 anymore. I don't have the energy to get into that discussion tonight but yeah
- Mordecai

Good no sign for the Flyers? lol

One mediocre season on a challenged Offensive team... that's a little harsh no?

Well, if you really want to get into it. I personally don't think Weber is top 5 anymore. I don't have the energy to get into that discussion tonight but yeah
- Mordecai

I agree with you. There are about 10 elite D-men right now that go from 1st to 10th or vice versa in any given season depending on health , hot streaks and team play.

Doughty, Keith, Weber, Hedman, Karrlson, OEL , Subban, Gardiner, Suter, Giordano

Good no sign for the Flyers? lol

One mediocre season on a challenged Offensive team... that's a little harsh no?
- Brianandr1

He hasn't been top 5 for a couple years. Not statistically at least. I do acknowledge the fact that his value to the Preds is sky high though. He is a great defense first dman who is the undisputed leader of that locker room. But on the ice there are a litany of other defensemen who are statistically better. Leadership qualities, big hits, and "intangibles" are good and all, but at the end of the day it's all about skill, speed, and who can score more goals.

Ryan McDonagh is better than at least 1 defenseman on each blogger's list

Karlsson is a top 5 player in the league.
- TheCalSen

Didn't your blogger show the stats that when he was away from Methot his numbers were poop? So if a D man 'has' to have a certain partner I wouldn't call him the best at anything. The best should be able to play with anyone & succeed.

He is though. Keith plays on a championship team. Karlsson plays on a borderline bubble team and still performs at an elite level.

Crosby-Malkin-Letang

Toews-Kane-Hossa-Keith

Karlsson-Turris?-Ryan?

He makes his entire team signifigantly better by himself. That is incredible.
- Mordecai

Sorry but the gee up is now over - the Sens blogger himself (as I have said), showed that 1. He not very good at all on his own, & 2. He relies on Methot.

Now you can continue to play the game but.........

Sorry but the gee up is now over - the Sens blogger himself (as I have said), showed that 1. He not very good at all on his own, & 2. He relies on Methot.

Now you can continue to play the game but.........
- Aussiepenguin

The argument is that he is SO good at driving possession and keeping the puck in the offensive zone that he doesn't even need to play defense most of the time. All offensive dmen are going to leave gaps in the d zone. That is exactly why you pair him with a player like Methot. He relies on no one. Because no defenseman today plays like Karlsson. This is what the Sens blogger was saying.