Letang? hahahaha.. Dude, your homerism is showing. Put it away.

The other guys are all either 1. forwards, or 2 shutdown/physical Dmen.

But Letang? He is of the exact same mould as Karlsson but not even close to as good.

Can you even imagine how many points Karlsson would have had last year if he was quarterbacking a PP with Crosby, Malkin and Neal on it?
- Charliebox

No one is denying he is a great offensive defenseman and capable of playing well in his own end too. He's a wonderful, young talent But, that doesn't make him the best player in the league. That's the argument. He also is relied upon far more than any other defenseman in the league to put up points. Hence the number of shots he put up. More than all defensemen it seems. If I'm not mistaken, he already had almost 70 when he went down.

No, Letang actually plays defense. He isn't just a winger who plays at the blue line. Mike Green would be a more accurate comparison.
- kill.monsters

Karlsson > Letang

Letang? hahahaha.. Dude, your homerism is showing. Put it away.

The other guys are all either 1. forwards, or 2 shutdown/physical Dmen.

But Letang? He is of the exact same mould as Karlsson but not even close to as good.

Can you even imagine how many points Karlsson would have had last year if he was quarterbacking a PP with Crosby, Malkin and Neal on it?
- Charliebox

Letang: Way more physical, Better skater, may have the fastest closing speed I have ever seen, the guy is a better defenseman, playmaking ability is unmatched on the blueline.

Karlsson: better shot, better on the PP.

Can you name another thing he is better than Letang at ?

No, Letang actually plays defense. He isn't just a winger who plays at the blue line. Mike Green would be a more accurate comparison.
- kill.monsters

Saying stuff like this doesn't make it true.

You're 3 years behind. Congrats, you just described Karlsson in the 2010-2011 season.

Read one of Yost's blogs. He has shown time and time again (with QoC stats to back it up) that Karlsson plays against the other team's best players night in and night out and was still a +16 on an 8th seeded team last season. Ask Ovechkin what he thinks about playing against Karlsson.

The only thing he doesn't do often is PK.. why? Because McLean already plays him close to 30 mins a game and wants to save him.. the Sens have other capable PK Dmen to eat up those mins..

BUT if the Sens are up a goal and the other team gets a late PP, or pulls the goalie for the extra attacker, Karlsson is out there every single time.

If the Senators are smart (and for the record, they are the best coached team in the entire NHL and do not have a reputation for letting their emotions get in the way of a good hockey game, so yes, they are smart), they won't concern themselves with a fringe NHL'er like Cooke and focus more on getting the win and moving themselves closer to the playoffs.

I do think the first commenter is wayyyyy out of line by suggesting that all Ottawa fans are ridiculous because of comments made in the Ottawa Sun. It is a well documented fact that no one dislikes the comments made in that rag about the Senators more than Senators fans themselves. Taking the opinions of Don Brennan or Bruce Garrioch as the gospel for which Senators fans conduct themselves is ludicrous. These two don't have 2 nickels worth of credibility to rub together between them, and they instead focus on sensationalism and antagonism to provoke discussion and traffic. And obviously it worked.

As for Senators fans still feeling butthurt about the whole Karlsson-Cooke incident...that's exactly how they're supposed to feel. They're entitled to that, and they'll surely be hoping that Cooke feels a little pain tonight. If you think about it, Matt Cooke inflicted a severe injury on the best player in the NHL by being Matt Cooke. If that had been Patrick Kaleta cutting Sidney Crosby's achilles tendon, or Steve Ott cutting Alex Ovechkin's achilles tendon, or any other wiener NHL'er cutting any other star NHL'ers achilles tendon, there would be an equal amount of butthurt coming out of the stars fanbase, and an equal amount of backtracking and excuses coming out of the offenders fanbase. The ongoing discussion about this incident was absolutely predictable, and it in no way should be a negative mark on the fans of the Senators or the Penguins. Let's hope it's a good hockey game. And at the very least, let's hope that Jared Cowen catches Cooke coming across the middle and lays him out with a good clean bodycheck. It's not like Cooke will fight anyways, and I'd rather see the guy get the wind knocked out of him on a good hockey play, as I'm sure would any fan of any player on any team that Cooke has done something questionable to, which I think would include any fan of any team not called the Pittsburgh Penguins.

And yes, Karlsson is the best player in the NHL, or at least he was when he got hurt. Whether he still is or not coming back, who knows. But for a time, he absolutely was.
- the_terror

This pretty much captures everything I want to say on the Cooke matter. Ottawa needs the two points, and I really can't see a Paul MacLean coached team get sidetracked into a streetfight when there's important points on the line, and facing a depleted lineup who has already punched their ticket- after getting smoked on hockey night in Canada by their arch-rival in their own barn. Zero chance.

RE: Karlsson being the best player in the NHL. He's definitely the best offensive defenseman, and there is next to no room for debate on that one. The NHL hasn't seen a defenseman dominate play like Karlsson since the legendary #4. I'm a huge fan of Letang and I think he's great, but he's not the same player as Karlsson. His defensive play is also outrageously underrated by those that don't see him every night.

I really hope that Ottawa doesn't get sidetracked tonight with the Cooke BS, and I'm pretty confident that they won't.

I have no problem with you guys thinking Karlsson is better all I ask you for is a reason why?

I hope we get the sens in round one so we can sweep them and their stupid fans will stop talking

Letang: Way more physical, Better skater, may have the fastest closing speed I have ever seen, the guy is a better defenseman, playmaking ability is unmatched on the blueline.

Karlsson: better shot, better on the PP.

Can you name another thing he is better than Letang at ?
- nbartley9

Hockey

Letang: Way more physical, Better skater, may have the fastest closing speed I have ever seen, the guy is a better defenseman, playmaking ability is unmatched on the blueline.

Karlsson: better shot, better on the PP.

Can you name another thing he is better than Letang at ?
- nbartley9

Ok.. now I know you're just pulling my leg, and you don't actually mean this stuff.

Karlsson is better in every offensive skill than Letang. He is also faster and much more elusive. Letang gets popped quite often. Karlsson barely ever gets touched. He also creates space for himself unlike any other Dmen or any other PLAYER in the NHL, outside Crosby.

Sooo, No 87, 71, 7, 18, 58, 29, OR 19?

If Ottawa doesn't win this game they should just quit.

Honestly, I still think the Penguins find a way to get it done.

Again, Ottawa needs the 2 points, if they are intent on going after Cooke then its just plain ignorance. I say Cooke fights with someone more his size and it will all be over.
- Sell My Monkey

Dude, the Penguins have BY FAR the best roster, on paper, in the league. There is zero question. It's also a lineup that given the salary cap, will not be even remotely possible to ice in future years. Malkin, Crosby are clearly elite players, Neal and Kunitz are incredible supplemental scorers, and Iginla and Morrow are former elite players with veteran leadership. It's actually insane the amount of talent on this roster, so even if you take half of the talent off of it, you're still left with a pretty good team- and their record without 87 and 71 are evidence of that.

Ok.. now I know you're just pulling my leg, and you don't actually mean this stuff.

Karlsson is better in every offensive skill than Letang. He is also faster and much more elusive. Letang gets popped quite often. Karlsson barely ever gets touched. He also creates space for himself unlike any other Dmen or any other PLAYER in the NHL, outside Crosby.
- Charliebox

Cooke touched him....

If the Senators are smart (and for the record, they are the best coached team in the entire NHL and do not have a reputation for letting their emotions get in the way of a good hockey game, so yes, they are smart), they won't concern themselves with a fringe NHL'er like Cooke and focus more on getting the win and moving themselves closer to the playoffs.

I do think the first commenter is wayyyyy out of line by suggesting that all Ottawa fans are ridiculous because of comments made in the Ottawa Sun. It is a well documented fact that no one dislikes the comments made in that rag about the Senators more than Senators fans themselves. Taking the opinions of Don Brennan or Bruce Garrioch as the gospel for which Senators fans conduct themselves is ludicrous. These two don't have 2 nickels worth of credibility to rub together between them, and they instead focus on sensationalism and antagonism to provoke discussion and traffic. And obviously it worked.

As for Senators fans still feeling butthurt about the whole Karlsson-Cooke incident...that's exactly how they're supposed to feel. They're entitled to that, and they'll surely be hoping that Cooke feels a little pain tonight. If you think about it, Matt Cooke inflicted a severe injury on the best player in the NHL by being Matt Cooke. If that had been Patrick Kaleta cutting Sidney Crosby's achilles tendon, or Steve Ott cutting Alex Ovechkin's achilles tendon, or any other wiener NHL'er cutting any other star NHL'ers achilles tendon, there would be an equal amount of butthurt coming out of the stars fanbase, and an equal amount of backtracking and excuses coming out of the offenders fanbase. The ongoing discussion about this incident was absolutely predictable, and it in no way should be a negative mark on the fans of the Senators or the Penguins. Let's hope it's a good hockey game. And at the very least, let's hope that Jared Cowen catches Cooke coming across the middle and lays him out with a good clean bodycheck. It's not like Cooke will fight anyways, and I'd rather see the guy get the wind knocked out of him on a good hockey play, as I'm sure would any fan of any player on any team that Cooke has done something questionable to, which I think would include any fan of any team not called the Pittsburgh Penguins.

And yes, Karlsson is the best player in the NHL, or at least he was when he got hurt. Whether he still is or not coming back, who knows. But for a time, he absolutely was.
- the_terror

He is one of the best, not the best. You need a reality check just like the Ottawa fan that posted the long-winded response. One year doesn't make him the best player. That type of ridiculous thinking is like a certain buffoon coach in Philly who thought Giroux was the best.

Hockey
- MadCap2008

Brilliant.

This pretty much captures everything I want to say on the Cooke matter. Ottawa needs the two points, and I really can't see a Paul MacLean coached team get sidetracked into a streetfight when there's important points on the line, and facing a depleted lineup who has already punched their ticket- after getting smoked on hockey night in Canada by their arch-rival in their own barn. Zero chance.

RE: Karlsson being the best player in the NHL. He's definitely the best offensive defenseman, and there is next to no room for debate on that one. The NHL hasn't seen a defenseman dominate play like Karlsson since the legendary #4. I'm a huge fan of Letang and I think he's great, but he's not the same player as Karlsson. His defensive play is also outrageously underrated by those that don't see him every night.

I really hope that Ottawa doesn't get sidetracked tonight with the Cooke BS, and I'm pretty confident that they won't.
- Jordo

But I could have sworn that Lidstrom wore the #5.

Karlsson should not be mentioned in the same breath as Orr at this stage in his career at all.

Brilliant.
- nbartley9

You asked - just being honest.

The Greatest Speech ever!!! I still laugh my ass off!!! Could you imagine being a fan of Ottawa and watching that speech?

You obviously don't watch him. He plays against the other team's top line every game. He is the Sens offensive beast as well as shutdown Dman.

I wouldn't go as far as to say he is the best player in the league, but he is, by far, the most dominant Dman in the NHL.
- Charliebox

I'm sorry man, but ONE year doesn't mean jack squat. Hey I bought in, he was my #1 fantasy pick this year.

G A Pts +/-

5 21 26 -5
13 32 45 -30 A sad sad rating, not that +/- means anything
19 59 78 16 BEAST MODE, deserved the Norris (only 1 year)
4 6 10 6 Could have been a great year

Ask Giroux if one year makes you the BEST in the NHL.

Cooke touched him....
- Genev21

I knew that was coming, right after I posted it. Ya, he touched him.. on the leg with his skate blade.

C'mon guys.. I admit that the individual who called Karlsson the best player in the game is a bit out of touch (he may become the best player, for a time, during his career, but he isn't there yet).

But, with that said, trying to even compare Letang to Karlsson is downright ludicrous.

We can talk about Chara or Weber being better all around than Karlsson (I disagree, but I can at least entertain the argument) because they are totally different players. It's apples to oranges really.

But Letang is the exact same type of player as Karlsson is, but just not even close to as good. It's a fresh apple off a tree to an apple that has been sitting on the ground and ran over a couple times by a lawnmower.

The argument of who is better between Letang and Karlsson is pointless.

Fans will be biased based on who they see more. Seeing Karlsson play a few games a year versus seeing the little thing Letang does night in and night out (and vise versa) isn't a fair comparison.

We as Pens fans hear it all of the time with Crosby. A lot of out of market fans will even go to the point of saying that Malkin is a better hockey player than Crosby. But if you can find one person that watches every Pens game saying that I will be surprised.

Both Letang and Karlsson are incredible players. Letang is a little more physical, but Karlsson is better in just about all offensive aspects of his game. Just watching him as little as I do, he also strikes me as a very intelligent hockey player, using his skating and positioning to make up for his lack of physicality. In that aspect he reminds me of Sergei Gonchar in his prime.

Calling Karlsson a defensive liability or one dimensional is no less ignorant than saying that Matt Cooke is a fringe NHL player.

I'd gladly take either one on my team. All things being equal, I'd probably take Karlsson.

But I could have sworn that Lidstrom wore the #5.

Karlsson should not be mentioned in the same breath as Orr at this stage in his career at all.
- acdc1206

They have the same style- puck possession and complete domination. Coming into the league, the knock on Karlsson was that he was just too small- but the reality is, his skating ability compensates for it- I can't think of a time where I've ever seen Karlsson get hit in open ice, and for the amount he rushes the puck- that says a lot.

He's a special and unique talent, and I completely understand the magnitude of the comparable, but I'm holding to it.

Letang: Way more physical, Better skater, may have the fastest closing speed I have ever seen, the guy is a better defenseman, playmaking ability is unmatched on the blueline.

Karlsson: better shot, better on the PP.

Can you name another thing he is better than Letang at ?
- nbartley9

See, I would say the same thig about Karlsson here. I've seen countless time his partner or someone else give up the puck, it would be a breakaway or 2 on 1, and then Karlsson is on the guy even if he has several strides on him.

Blue line to blue line, I've never seen someone faster.

But I don't watch Letang as much, so I cant comment on whos the better skater. From what i've seen, I'd say Karlsson, just as how dominent i've seen him skate. That's just me though, with what ever bias I may have.

Ok.. now I know you're just pulling my leg, and you don't actually mean this stuff.

Karlsson is better in every offensive skill than Letang. He is also faster and much more elusive. Letang gets popped quite often. Karlsson barely ever gets touched. He also creates space for himself unlike any other Dmen or any other PLAYER in the NHL, outside Crosby.
- Charliebox

Think what you will, just by the way you talk it is obvious to see that you have not seen Letang play that much.
When it comes to actual defense Letang blows Karlsson out of the water.

He is one of the best, not the best. You need a reality check just like the Ottawa fan that posted the long-winded response. One year doesn't make him the best player. That type of ridiculous thinking is like a certain buffoon coach in Philly who thought Giroux was the best.
- Oneonta Penguin

He's arguably the best defenseman... Crosby is way better. Toews is way better.

It's not a bad comparison at all. Both are reckless plays that result in injuries to star players.

Cooke has a history. No one can deny that. Because of that, it's extremely difficult to give him the benefit of the doubt. Had it been, say, Tyler Kennedy who did it, no one would still be talking about it.

The bottom line is that a 'weasel' took out a star player with a reckless play. The weasel should have to answer for his actions. Period.

I'm sure that in this case, he will answer.

As for saying it's not important enough to do it tonight, misses the point entirely. The point isn't that the Sens and Pens have a rivalry. I don't think any Sen fan has anything against the Pens as a team. It's one player they have a problem with. If, say, Cooke is traded in the offseason, HE should still have to answer for his actions, regardless of who he plays for.
- Charliebox

Its a horrible comparison. If you're saying that barreling into a goalie takes the same amount of precision as using your skate blade to sever someone's Achille's tendon, you have to be an utter idiot.

Apparently Iginla's house in Calgary is on the market
http://www.justlistedcalg...64210-628-britannia-dr-sw



Seeing his wine "cellar", he might sign here after this season afterall, just to spend some time at Mario's house.