DOH 393 – Oh, hello there ERIK KARLSSON
September 13th, 2018, 2:14 pm
In the biggest trade of the year, the Sharks land another gigantic fish, defenseman Erik Karlsson from the Senators. The Dudes are as surprised and happy as anyone.
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Tags: Erik Karlsson, San Jose Sharks
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No questions, it’s amazing, and if you’re DW you make the trade every day. Presumably, the Sharks will continue to deal, moving D-men (Braun? Heed?) to get a center and/or winger because their D is waaaaay better than their O, plus they have all these exciting D prospects. The big question is, will he sign a long-term deal? I would expect so. Here’s hoping.
Not to be negative – because I love the deal, the player, and the possibilities – but OF COURSE we lose the 3rd line center we’ve been looking for forever. Though I imagine DW sold Tierney as a second line center.
Wouldn’t it just be perfect if we somehow pried Matt D away from the Sens now?
It’s actually more of a gamble than most people think … Norris could be a superstar, Tierney’s a second-line capable center about to enter his prime, and Karlsson might only be a rental. The Sharks traded 2 centers who might have been on the roster for years for a shot at signing the best offensive defenseman of this era. If they sign Karlsson, it’s worth it, if not, I’m not sure. And also, I guess this means Hertl or Pavs is a center again? And when Jumbo gets injured, the other will be a center too. Our D is the best in the NHL. Our forwards are probably barely a playoff team quality. But I love the urgency – DW senses this is Jumbo’s last shot at a cup, and he wants to get hit for him. But I’d say even if all the roster’s healthy, we still need to add a center and a scoring winger. Injuries to either Couture or Jumbo would be a huge problem.
* get it for him
Now Burns can finally go back to forward.
j/k
I’m sure Norris could be a superstar the same way Antti Suomela could be a superstar. Actually, Suomela probably looks better at this point – top point producer in a pro league. Norris was the fifth-highest scoring forward for Michigan. Pronman does not see Norris as a top-6 forward, but says other scouts project him to possibly find a place on a second line. No one that I’ve seen has said Norris could be a superstar.
Of course, no one said that about Pavelski either.
At this point, a rational observer would estimate that none of what Ottawa got would likely turn into a top-6 or top-4 player (Tierney filling in for Pageau shouldn’t really count). Mid 20s picks do not generally turn into stars, much less superstars.
I’m writing too much because I’m very excited about Karlsson. The more I think about it, the more I think this is a BIGGER trade than Jumbo. When’s the last time a multi-Norris winner was traded in his 20s???
Like most trades, this one can’t really be assessed right now.
I’m a card-carrying pessimist, so I’m thinking Karlsson doesn’t sign long term with us and we traded away a franchise 3rd line center plus a 15-20 goal scorer for his services for a year, plus some loft draft picks. I can live with that.
But if Karlsson plays at an All-Star level with the Sharks for 3 or more seasons, it’s a STEAL for Doug Wilson.
I love the deal. Karlsson is amazing. He completely fits in teal.
What’s important to keep in mind is: this isn’t a deal to “fill a hole” in the Sharks lineup.
This is a deal for a future Hall of Famer in his prime. Those players just don’t become available often.
I don’t think Wilson makes this move without some indication from Karlsson that he’d resign.
In the past 2 seasons, Wilson has basically swamped Marleau, Niemi, Boedker, and Tierney for Kane, Kalrsson, Jones and Meier. That’s the kind of rebuild-on-the-fly success that the Red Wings and Canucks were never able to pull off.
Yes, we need at least 1 more center and 1 more winger to be a contender. I love Doug’s suggestions at center.
Just speculating – remember Wilson overpaid Tierney in his recent deal. Expected to be around $2.1 mil, was $2.9 mil. Did Wilson do that on purpose to make Tierney look like a top-6 center, increasing his trade value?
More likely this deal was less about Tierney than Norris. It gives the Sens a solid top 3 young centers : Duchene-Norris-Tierney.
Factoring in overall performance, I’d say the Sharks now have 3 of the top 10 D men in the NHL.
And assuming Karlsson is paired with Vlasic, they have the clear top D-pair in the league. I take them over Subban-Josi, over Jones-Werenski, over… is there anyone else even close?
I’m trying to recall a modern team with a top 3 as good as Karlsson-Burns-Vlasic. There have been many teams with two studs, but three in-their-prime no doubt top 20 Dmen (maybe even top 10 as Tyler says)?
Just really exciting stuff. Makes me wish I still lived in the Bay as I would be plunking down good cash for season tickets!
I also love Doug’s suggestions at the mid.