Hes the best defenseman in the NHL by a ridulous margin and happena to probably also be the 2nd best defenseman to play in the NHL since Lidstrom made it in 1990.

He still has another ten years left and Lidstrom played on a good team every year, something Karlsson has never had .

At this point it seems at least even money that by the end of his career EK is considered superior to Lidstrom.
- James_Tanner

Obviously EK doesn't make his team the best....they haven't won squat and he plays the majority of the game. Stop blaming his teammates...all NHL'rs are equal right?

For starters the D should be cleaning that up, if your getting scored on from behind the net they are not doing something right
- BeastModeS62

No, if the other team scores top corner from the goal line corner...it's not you D's fault.

Obviously Reim's can play but he had his opportunities to take the lead and run.....he didn't get it done. But as a lot of goalies have shown....maybe he turns it around.

I hope he does....seems like a great person for sure.

I like that youve read enough of my work to know my views on EK, which you paraphrased, but yet your immidiate reaction was to freak out and call me an idiot instead of thinking that maybe i just forgot about someone.
- James_Tanner

I realize it's a blog but when I'm attemping to publish I reread and fact check thoroughly. Came off harsh I agree, my apologies. Inconsistencies are something I take grievance with.

On the topic, where does hedman fit? He has the widest array of skills of any Swedish defensemen. Lindholms good. Agreed. Yet insulated on a deep duck blueline.

I read mostly to hear the moloney bashing. Guess thats almost through though?

I'm confused by your comment. Your a Bruins fans... that's fine... but clearly this can't be the worst thing you have ever read... some of the baloney that the Bruins coverage spews - both in print and on the air is just as bad as what Tanner says at times...

or are you just raw because he didn't mentioned anything about the used to be "big bad bruins"?
- BorjeFan4Ever

(read this in a southie accent for full affect)

Yah kid, its totally because im so raw kid . Cant believe he didnt mention how wicked good the bruins are kid.

No, if the other team scores top corner from the goal line corner...it's not you D's fault.

Obviously Reim's can play but he had his opportunities to take the lead and run.....he didn't get it done. But as a lot of goalies have shown....maybe he turns it around.

I hope he does....seems like a great person for sure.
- Garnie

I believe's there's a great parallel in the situation that existed around Dubnyk... who played behind shyte for so long... he didn't know how to play goal any more... then bounced around and more or less got his head straight.

Leafs opted (yes they took the easy choice which was understandable at the deadline)... but if they keep Bernier without going out and getting someone else.. then I will really question Shanahan and LouLams. Babcock would seem not to have much confidence in the little dink. Goalie equipment is going to shrink - and this will impact Bernier more than most... as he's already small.

Sure these guys are smart enough to know that he isn't the future... and he only got the opportunity because the Burke/Nonis regime needed someone to pin the loss to the Bruins on. That was nonsensical on several levels, the Leafs had no business taking that series to 7 games, and only got there because Reimer stood on his head in at least two of the three Leaf wins. For those who have forgotten the Leafs were without Bozak for game 6 and 7 I believe, they lost Fraser in the 6th game I believe. Both Fraser and Bozak have their flaws - often exaggerated by flaws nevertheless... the point being pinning the collapse on Reimer and only Reimer was just plain stupid.

Giving up the picks for Bernier and for Bolland should have been enough to tell us all that the management team vastly overrated the team - and by associated completely mis-characterized the playoff loss, the contracts for Phaneuf and Kessel.

At the end of the day, results are all that matters. LA might have been one of the best statistically sound teams over the past two years, but it doesn't matter. They were 15 wins short of a cup.

The "luck" narrative I strongly disagree with. We have had 3 different teams win the cup over the past 6 seasons. Same teams seem to be battling in the cup finals or conference finals. That isn't luck, it's just great teams maintaining success, and others continuing to fail.

Obviously EK doesn't make his team the best....they haven't won squat and he plays the majority of the game. Stop blaming his teammates...all NHL'rs are equal right?
- Garnie

This is another false narrative that is pushed by analytic based opinions. There are about 5% of the league that truly makes a difference, and 95% are all pretty equal. If that were truly the xase, then the Ottawa Sens should have made the playoffs by just having one of the top 5%

What is it that Reimer can do that Jones or Greiss aren't already doing or Neuvirth did for the Flyers the last couple of games?

(read this in a southie accent for full affect)

Yah kid, its totally because im so raw kid . Cant believe he didnt mention how wicked good the bruins are kid.
- mikeq672

shouldn't that be "wicked awesome"

Nah jones hasnt done anything to lose his job, he's good. But my personal opinion is Reimer is better .
- James_Tanner

No, if the other team scores top corner from the goal line corner...it's not you D's fault.

Obviously Reim's can play but he had his opportunities to take the lead and run.....he didn't get it done. But as a lot of goalies have shown....maybe he turns it around.

I hope he does....seems like a great person for sure.
- Garnie

So now its from the corner

So now its from the corner
- BeastModeS62

You should have been watching...there was some good and some real bad. I could find the one I'm talking about I'm sure it's on YouTube....but you would find something else to laugh at.

Enjoy your playoffs, most are rooting for you guys

At the end of the day, results are all that matters. LA might have been one of the best statistically sound teams over the past two years, but it doesn't matter. They were 15 wins short of a cup.

The "luck" narrative I strongly disagree with. We have had 3 different teams win the cup over the past 6 seasons. Same teams seem to be battling in the cup finals or conference finals. That isn't luck, it's just great teams maintaining success, and others continuing to fail.
- sbroads24

To fans? Sure. Makes sense.

But, to people who have to evaluate players so that they can pay them properly and make beneficial roster moves, results are the last thing you should be looking at.

I believe's there's a great parallel in the situation that existed around Dubnyk... who played behind shyte for so long... he didn't know how to play goal any more... then bounced around and more or less got his head straight.

Leafs opted (yes they took the easy choice which was understandable at the deadline)... but if they keep Bernier without going out and getting someone else.. then I will really question Shanahan and LouLams. Babcock would seem not to have much confidence in the little dink. Goalie equipment is going to shrink - and this will impact Bernier more than most... as he's already small.

Sure these guys are smart enough to know that he isn't the future... and he only got the opportunity because the Burke/Nonis regime needed someone to pin the loss to the Bruins on. That was nonsensical on several levels, the Leafs had no business taking that series to 7 games, and only got there because Reimer stood on his head in at least two of the three Leaf wins. For those who have forgotten the Leafs were without Bozak for game 6 and 7 I believe, they lost Fraser in the 6th game I believe. Both Fraser and Bozak have their flaws - often exaggerated by flaws nevertheless... the point being pinning the collapse on Reimer and only Reimer was just plain stupid.

Giving up the picks for Bernier and for Bolland should have been enough to tell us all that the management team vastly overrated the team - and by associated completely mis-characterized the playoff loss, the contracts for Phaneuf and Kessel.
- BorjeFan4Ever

Meh, Bernier could still turn out...I liked the Bolland signing and he was playing great until he cut his Achilles or whatever he cut.

Leafs all played good against the Bruins not just Reim's....just disappointing a couple of those goals could have been saved...but more after Bernier goes down he didn't step up. IMO

Go Leafs Go

You have three recent Cups man, but if you still need my support, you have it: the Hawks are a great team.
- James_Tanner

Thanks James sometimes just knowing it is not enough, sometimes you need to hear it.

Once EK starts playing the penalty kill then I'll believe that he's better than Lindholm. Until then it's just east coast bias.

We get so tied up in results, that often we don't pay any attention to anything else. But, realistically, there is no reason the Kings can't come back next season and win the Cup with the roster they have.

I am sure that some - well if you can't say anything nice - guys will say that one Playoff game in two years is a failure, but come on. It's bad luck what happened to them, but they're still currently among the NHL's elite teams.

but at what point do they stop getting the benefit of the doubt? any GM who doesn't evaluate after 1 playoff win in 2 seasons... he wouldn't be an NHL GM. no one cares what the Kings do in the regular season with their monster possession numbers. right now it's clearly not translating to success. this year they had their knees cut out from under them due to the Martinez injury and a lack of depth behind the top 3. that needs to be addressed. remember last time they were elite, they had Voynov back there. up front, they could well lose Lucic, and Gaborik, Brown and Carter are not getting any younger. i think this is a big offseason for the Kings and they need to play it right to keep their window wide open.

but at what point do they stop getting the benefit of the doubt? any GM who doesn't evaluate after 1 playoff win in 2 seasons... he wouldn't be an NHL GM. no one cares what the Kings do in the regular season with their monster possession numbers. right now it's clearly not translating to success. this year they had their knees cut out from under them due to the Martinez injury and a lack of depth behind the top 3. that needs to be addressed. remember last time they were elite, they had Voynov back there. up front, they could well lose Lucic, and Gaborik, Brown and Carter are not getting any younger. i think this is a big offseason for the Kings and they need to play it right to keep their window wide open.
- DoubleDown

I disagree almost 100% here. One of the worst things a GM could ever do is overreact to a Playoff loss.

Yeah, the Sharks won, but lets not forget that it was an opening round matchup that featured two of the best teams in the NHL and that one of them was going home no matter what.

By the same token, you can't just say "oh well we deserved better" and then make no changes at all.

But the fact remain that missing out on the Playoffs last year was one of the most improbable things that ever actually happened in the NHL, maybe ever. People think this is crazy, but if you look into it, it isn't. They lost 15 games in OT/shootout, and ignoring that, just 5 bad luck losses in regulation going the other way would have put them second in the conference.

They also lead the league in the stat that correlates most strongly to winning over time. So, empirically, they were basically the most unlucky team of all time, and then this year faced the Sharks in the first round and lost 3 one-goal games, despite again leading the NHL in the stat that correlates heaviest with winning.

They are also a team that features perhaps the best all-round forward in Kopitar and two top-ten dmen in Muzzin and Doughty + Luke Schenn as the 6th Dman, so they're incredibly deep.

Also: Voynov was a replacement level player with a bad contract. While it sucks for whoever he assaulted, him being forced off the team was probably a good thing, since he was crazy overrated.

Wow! even your grandma doesn't read this blog. That almost made me sad but than I decided to continue living my life.

shouldn't that be "wicked awesome"
- BorjeFan4Ever

(frank), I knew I was missing something.