Kinda like Shattenkirk?

And side note....holy crap EK65 has 68 points in 71 games atm
- rangerdanger94

has he even entered the Ottawa zone to help defend once this year?

has he even entered the Ottawa zone to help defend once this year?
- jimbro83

His -17 would indicate no.

has he even entered the Ottawa zone to help defend once this year?
- jimbro83

His -17 would indicate no.
- rangerdanger94

Ottawa has 240 goals against, most against in the NHL

if Karlsson gets even a Norris finalist nomination it should be considered a criminal act

Ottawa has 240 goals against, most against in the NHL

if Karlsson gets even a Norris finalist nomination it should be considered a criminal act
- jimbro83

Pretty crazy...just last year people were saying they have one of the top 3 coaches in the entire NHL and played a crazy good system both offensively and defensively and it just seemed to all implode after the Montreal series.

I will say that I agree that EK65 should not even be nominated but I would not be surprised at all if a defenseman who's basically a PPG player gets nominated.

Ryan McDonagh 42 pts and a +10 (52)

Erik Karlsson 68 pts and a -17 (51)

Who is a better all around defenseman?

I know the numbers don't tell the whole story all of the time but if Norris Trophy voting is about the best defenseman then shouldn't how well a player defends be criteria number one? Just a thought....

And remember, McDonagh is on the ice every time (EVERY) time the opposition's best players are on the ice. A +10 is quite the number.

Pretty crazy...just last year people were saying they have one of the top 3 coaches in the entire NHL and played a crazy good system both offensively and defensively and it just seemed to all implode after the Montreal series.

I will say that I agree that EK65 should not even be nominated but I would not be surprised at all if a defenseman who's basically a PPG player gets nominated.
- rangerdanger94

I wouldn't be surprised at all, the voters love points

Ryan McDonagh 42 pts and a +10 (52)

Erik Karlsson 68 pts and a -17 (51)

Who is a better all around defenseman?

I know the numbers don't tell the whole story all of the time but if Norris Trophy voting is about the best defenseman then shouldn't how well a player defends be criteria number one? Just a thought....
- Blueshirts4ever

It's not even a question who the better two-way defender is. EK65 is an offensive defenseman and that's it. He's the best offensive defenseman in the world though.

You pair a guy like him up with a lockdown defender like McDonagh and oh boy...

I wouldn't be surprised at all, the voters love points
- jimbro83

They do but other than Karlsson winning it in 2012, all past winners not only produced but are great defenders. Cehlios, Leetch, Bourque, Chara, Lidstrom, et al...

As wonderful as EK65's talent is, he is nit even close to the defenders those players that are listed above were, and McDonagh is about as good as there is. Yes, I'm a little biased and I like EK65...as a winger

It's not even a question who the better two-way defender is. EK65 is an offensive defenseman and that's it. He's the best offensive defenseman in the world though.

You pair a guy like him up with a lockdown defender like McDonagh and oh boy...
- rangerdanger94

Scary, and I don't want to diminish EK65's talent, we all know how skilled he is and as good a skater as there is, he should be a forward

Scary, and I don't want to diminish EK65's talent, we all know how skilled he is and as good a skater as there is, he should be a forward
- Blueshirts4ever

He could be a great forward but having someone as dynamic offensively as he is on the backend could be extremely dangerous if he's playing with the right partner. Whenever he's on the ice, it's basically like there are 4 forwards and 1 defenseman out there which is pretty sweet.

He could be a great forward but having someone as dynamic offensively as he is on the backend could be extremely dangerous if he's playing with the right partner. Whenever he's on the ice, it's basically like there are 4 forwards and 1 defenseman out there which is pretty sweet.
- rangerdanger94

You can say that about most players with his talent level though. Crosby can probably defend better than he can and have comparable skill sets. But I get what you're saying,

They do but other than Karlsson winning it in 2012, all past winners not only produced but are great defenders. Cehlios, Leetch, Bourque, Chara, Lidstrom, et al...

As wonderful as EK65's talent is, he is nit even close to the defenders those players that are listed above were, and McDonagh is about as good as there is. Yes, I'm a little biased and I like EK65...as a winger
- Blueshirts4ever

Last year, I said that Karlsson reminded me of Brian Leetch. I still stand by that, but obviously, he isn't the defensive player that Leetch was, at least yet. Right now, the more appropriate comparison may be Paul Coffey, but I do think that Karlsson is better defensively than Coffey.

He is a fantastic player having a down year defensively, and a great year from a points perspective. He doesn't deserve to be a Norris Finalist, but I also think that he has the potential to develop into one of the better all around defensement we've seen in a longtime.

Last year, I said that Karlsson reminded me of Brian Leetch. I still stand by that, but obviously, he isn't the defensive player that Leetch was, at least yet. Right now, the more appropriate comparison may be Paul Coffey, but I do think that Karlsson is better defensively than Coffey.

He is a fantastic player having a down year defensively, and a great year from a points perspective. He doesn't deserve to be a Norris Finalist, but I also think that he has the potential to develop into one of the better all around defensement we've seen in a longtime.
- Pete V

You wonder if he is the type of player who will spend the bulk of his off-season learning to play better in his own zone away from the puck. If he ever shored that up he could be in Hart Trophy conversations.

Last year, I said that Karlsson reminded me of Brian Leetch. I still stand by that, but obviously, he isn't the defensive player that Leetch was, at least yet. Right now, the more appropriate comparison may be Paul Coffey, but I do think that Karlsson is better defensively than Coffey.

He is a fantastic player having a down year defensively, and a great year from a points perspective. He doesn't deserve to be a Norris Finalist, but I also think that he has the potential to develop into one of the better all around defensement we've seen in a longtime.
- Pete V

His speed and skating gives him the potential to make some great defensive plays. I will agree that this year, the entire Senators team has been a total mess defensively. We can't pin it all on EK65.

Last year, I said that Karlsson reminded me of Brian Leetch. I still stand by that, but obviously, he isn't the defensive player that Leetch was, at least yet. Right now, the more appropriate comparison may be Paul Coffey, but I do think that Karlsson is better defensively than Coffey.

He is a fantastic player having a down year defensively, and a great year from a points perspective. He doesn't deserve to be a Norris Finalist, but I also think that he has the potential to develop into one of the better all around defensement we've seen in a longtime.
- Pete V

He shouldn't even come close, but he will because he's the highest scoring defenseman. The 3 Norris finalists will be Keith(deserving), Subban and Karlsson. Karlsson and Subban will rob those spots away from the likes of Chara, Pietrangelo, Doughty, Suter and Mcdonagh

His speed and skating gives him the potential to make some great defensive plays. I will agree that this year, the entire Senators team has been a total mess defensively. We can't pin it all on EK65.
- rangerdanger94

the fall of Craig Anderson this year too has got to make people appreciate Henrik Lundqvist's consistency.

Every year some goalie comes out of the blue and has some insane year but they eventually fall off.

year after year, Hank is great, even after a slow start this year

they should give him a guitar or something

He shouldn't even come close, but he will because he's the highest scoring defenseman. The 3 Norris finalists will be Keith(deserving), Subban and Karlsson. Karlsson and Subban will rob those spots away from the likes of Chara, Pietrangelo, Doughty, Suter and Mcdonagh
- tomburton99

And who happens to be the first two of three stars on NHL.com from last ...Mac and Karlsson.

Ryan McDonagh 42 pts and a +10 (52)

Erik Karlsson 68 pts and a -17 (51)

Who is a better all around defenseman?

I know the numbers don't tell the whole story all of the time but if Norris Trophy voting is about the best defenseman then shouldn't how well a player defends be criteria number one? Just a thought....

And remember, McDonagh is on the ice every time (EVERY) time the opposition's best players are on the ice. A +10 is quite the number.
- Blueshirts4ever

Considering the rough start to the season, he was a -7 as recently as 12/20, being a +10 at this point is a testament to how well he has played over the last three months. Since then he is 7-16-23 and a +17 in 37 games.

Considering the rough start to the season, he was a -7 as recently as 12/20, being a +10 at this point is a testament to how well he has played over the last three months. Since then he is 7-16-23 and a +17 in 37 games.
- gkmkiller

and the Rangers climbed up to 3rd in the conference in goals against after that horrid start and just trail Pitt by one goal, given the way Pittsburgh is finishing, the Rangers may end up 2nd in that category. Not that these numbers mean anything other than show how stark the Rangers turnaround has been since that terrible start.

And to extend your point, what has the Rangers record been since 12/20. Probably top 5 in the league? I'm guessing on that.

He shouldn't even come close, but he will because he's the highest scoring defenseman. The 3 Norris finalists will be Keith(deserving), Subban and Karlsson. Karlsson and Subban will rob those spots away from the likes of Chara, Pietrangelo, Doughty, Suter and Mcdonagh
- tomburton99

I definitely agree Keith is deserving and I would absolutely have Pietrangelo among my three finalists. I think McDonagh has an excellent case as the third finalist as well.

I looked it up and only one defenseman, Nicklas Lidstrom, has won the Norris with a negative +/- rating in the last 14 seasons. And only one other time has a blue liner won it with a +/- less than +10, again Lidstrom. So I think that means there is a good shot guys currently with a negative rating will be omitted.

and the Rangers climbed up to 3rd in the conference in goals against after that horrid start and just trail Pitt by one goal, given the way Pittsburgh is finishing, the Rangers may end up 2nd in that category. Not that these numbers mean anything other than show how stark the Rangers turnaround has been since that terrible start.

And to extend your point, what has the Rangers record been since 12/20. Probably top 5 in the league? I'm guessing on that.
- Blueshirts4ever

New system, new players. Not writing off this year, you never know, but I think we could do something special if the majority of the team comes back next year.

the fall of Craig Anderson this year too has got to make people appreciate Henrik Lundqvist's consistency.

Every year some goalie comes out of the blue and has some insane year but they eventually fall off.

year after year, Hank is great, even after a slow start this year

they should give him a guitar or something
- jimbro83

What I've learned from the Ottawa situation is that you have to be real careful about trading goaltenders. You can go from thinking you have a wealth of talent in net, to "oh, oh, we traded the wrong guy." Bishop looks like a stud in Tampa. The Flyers traded Bob, because they decided to go a different direction in net. I am just saying, be careful when you trade young goaltenders.

And, you are absolutely right about Hank. He may not be the best goaltender in any given year (although he is always in the Top 3-5), but over the course of the last several years, he has been the best, IMO.

By the way, Richter said essentially the same thing. Someone needs to run Richter for political office, because he can talk an owl out of a tree.

and the Rangers climbed up to 3rd in the conference in goals against after that horrid start and just trail Pitt by one goal, given the way Pittsburgh is finishing, the Rangers may end up 2nd in that category. Not that these numbers mean anything other than show how stark the Rangers turnaround has been since that terrible start.

And to extend your point, what has the Rangers record been since 12/20. Probably top 5 in the league? I'm guessing on that.
- Blueshirts4ever

24-11-2. Not sure where that ranks but it's darn good.

New system, new players. Not writing off this year, you never know, but I think we could do something special if the majority of the team comes back next year.
- mdw7413

I hear ya, but, as you say, lets not ride this spring off just yet. Lots of guys still here who have had playoff success. MSL will at some point produce. I will trade a little lack of production now for playoff production. Fresh start for all and if he can get going it would take so much pressure off of their other skill players and the Rangers strength is still their blue line and their goaltender...