Yet another baseless article here. Burns is in the scoring race, Karlsson is not. Karlsson won the Norris the same way Burns potentially might , offense.

And to say he's the best player in the game is truly a laughable comment.

He is a defensemen, certainly not the best defensemen in the league.

He should be considered for the best 3rd winger award.

I'd take Bourque over Lidstrom too. Just my opinion, I view Ray as the second best dman of all time.
- mykokes

After Orr, there's a few that are grouped closely together. Potvin, Bourque, and Lidstrom are in there, probably Scott Niedermayer and Larry Robinson too.

I think EK is a better overall version of Paul Coffey, but I wouldn't put him with the all-time greats. At least not yet.

You calling other people "fanbois" is the best. From prock:

- if I was gm of the Leafs I wouldn't take Karlsson for free
- I'd rather have Gardiner and Rielly than Karlsson
- leafs have greatest rookies in NHL history

And you still have the stones to call other people obnoxious fanbois.......
- sensarmy_11

In the rookie scoring race, Leafs are currently sitting in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 11th, 12th and 15th.

So if you put a few beers in me, I'd be happy to make that case*.

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*Recognizing that in arguments like this, there really is no right or wrong, but it's fun to get loaded and call your friends idiots, or worse, Sens fans.

In the rookie scoring race, Leafs are currently sitting in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 11th, 12th and 15th.

So if you put a few beers in me, I'd be happy to make that case*.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

*Recognizing that in arguments like this, there really is no right or wrong, but it's fun to get loaded and call your friends idiots, or worse, Sens fans.
- Atomic Wedgie

Edit: I think we can all agree that the current Flyers' lineup is the envy of the league.

Mikal Rosival or Radko Gudas for the Norris!

After Orr, there's a few that are grouped closely together. Potvin, Bourque, and Lidstrom are in there, probably Scott Niedermayer and Larry Robinson too.

I think EK is a better overall version of Paul Coffey, but I wouldn't put him with the all-time greats. At least not yet.
- jmatchett383

When his career is over.... the statement will read'after Orr, there is Karlsson....

When his career is over.... the statement will read'after Orr, there is Karlsson....
- SensnRBs

Nah, those other guys were elite at every aspect of the game.

When his career is over.... the statement will read'after Orr, there is Karlsson....
- SensnRBs

Not taking anything away from Karlsson, but he would have to keep up his current level of play for literally the rest of his career for him to pass Lidstrom, IMO. I don't think he will, but as a hockey fan I'm all for it. The more elite level hockey there is for me to watch, the better.

Every year Karlsson has augmented his game while literally sacrificing no other aspects. He's 26 and has potentially the better part of a decade left at elite pace. The naysayers who say he is not the best all around defenseman in the game today are delusional.

Burns is having a fantastic year. If he wins the Norris hes more deserved than Doughty last year. He is a dominant player deserves to be recognized as such. Alas, he is a notch below Karlsson. This is fact.

Karlsson could play his entire career without a cup and still be a first ballot Hall of Famer. Basically predicated on the achievements he ALREADY has. I don't think Burns receives that without a cup or a couple Norris' barring a spree of top defenseman awards to twilight his career.

You suck Tanner. If you're just trying to be a troll than you're doing well. But if you're trying to be taken seriously, your hockey analysis blows.

Some good lines in this blog Tanner. I really laughed at the suggestion EK is a hockey player version of Legolas.

It seems like some awards like the Norris are assigned in a very arbitrary manner. It's more about the story than who honestly deserves it. Burns is having a career year on a team that is having an amazing season. If his team goes far in the playoffs he will definitely win the Norris because it's a great story, far more interesting than giving another Norris to Karlsson, whether he deserves it or not.

I have no problem with Tanner's narrative here, but if you're going to look at from that perspective then other awards should be equally as subjective.

Over the past few years, Letang has been equal if not more important to the success of the Pens than Sid or Geno; by that standard then he should have won the Norris at least once. The Pens are a weird case because of the superstar talent they possess, but many Pens' writers have shown how profound Letang is to the Pens over Sid and Geno.

LET ME BE CLEAR: I'm not saying Letang should win the Norris. I'm saying looking at things using Tanner's argument changes the way the entire trophy should be voted on.

The same could be said for the Calder. Does Matthews deserve it over Laine? Matthews is clearly a super-talent, but look at his surrounding cast members. TOR is flooded with young talented players and solid vets.

If we're changing how we the voting should be decided upon, you could argue Tkachuk or Werenski should be ahead of Matthews and Laine. Tkachuk has a profoundly positive affect on CGY's ability to generate offense and maintain substantial possession numbers.

I'm all for changing this process. I don't necessarily like points can be the overwhelming factor or even favouritism (spelling for Canadians lol), but when you throw subjectivity in there you could lead to more favoritism.

Sweden has lots of great Death Metal and Doom Metal. Yet you play this.

Blog is invalid.

I have no problem with Tanner's narrative here, but if you're going to look at from that perspective then other awards should be equally as subjective.

Over the past few years, Letang has been equal if not more important to the success of the Pens than Sid or Geno; by that standard then he should have won the Norris at least once. The Pens are a weird case because of the superstar talent they possess, but many Pens' writers have shown how profound Letang is to the Pens over Sid and Geno.

LET ME BE CLEAR: I'm not saying Letang should win the Norris. I'm saying looking at things using Tanner's argument changes the way the entire trophy should be voted on.

The same could be said for the Calder. Does Matthews deserve it over Laine? Matthews is clearly a super-talent, but look at his surrounding cast members. TOR is flooded with young talented players and solid vets.

If we're changing how we the voting should be decided upon, you could argue Tkachuk or Werenski should be ahead of Matthews and Laine. Tkachuk has a profoundly positive affect on CGY's ability to generate offense and maintain substantial possession numbers.

I'm all for changing this process. I don't necessarily like points can be the overwhelming factor or even favouritism (spelling for Canadians lol), but when you throw subjectivity in there you could lead to more favoritism.
- Rinosaur

I think letangs defensive game is underrated. and people dismiss his production because of Crosby and malkin.

he's top 10 in my opinion. IF he could stay healthy I wouldn't hesitate to give him a Norris.

The end goal is the Stanley Cup. Sens fans are happy with being 6th to 10th in the conference, and Melnyk just wants 8th or better, doesn't matter to him. He just wants the playoff revenue.

This year has been an amazing year for the Leafs. Their youth is absolutely phenomenal, and without a doubt, are FAR closer to a cup than the Sens. As in, not even remotely close.

So, I don't really care if the Sens are a few points ahead in the standings of our rookie filled team. This Leaf team has established themselves as one of the best young teams in the league, a team you can expect to be at the top of the league for a long time to come.

So, hold off on your "hang in there champ", for a little while longer, then it's much more likely you can call the Leafs that.
- prock

Deja vu

I think letangs defensive game is underrated. and people dismiss his production because of Crosby and malkin.

he's top 10 in my opinion. IF he could stay healthy I wouldn't hesitate to give him a Norris.
- prock

Letang is criminally underrated.

Letang is criminally underrated.
- Blackstrom2

Yeah, when I say top 10, I think top 3, but if anyone argues with top 10 it's easy to make them look stupid.

he's really (frank)ing awesome.

Maybe if he broke a sweat he'd be better defensively, produce a little more, and have another Norris trophy.

Maybe his teams would make the playoffs and get further than they normally do too.
- prock

Better defensively? Karlsson is leading the league in blocked shots by nearly 20 over the next guy. He's also 3rd in takeaways by defensemen. This argument about Karlsson being bad defensively is both old and inaccurate.

Burns, who will probably will the Norris for the same reason Karlsson DIDN'T last year is statistically far worse in defensive categories such as blocks (behind Karlsson by 65), and turnovers (Burns is a -82 differential, Karlsson a -44). Even wonder boy Due Doughty is vastly inferior numbers wise to Karlsson this year.

Karlsson is and has been far more consistently excellent than any other of the premier d-men in the league. Period.

Not taking anything away from Karlsson, but he would have to keep up his current level of play for literally the rest of his career for him to pass Lidstrom, IMO. I don't think he will, but as a hockey fan I'm all for it. The more elite level hockey there is for me to watch, the better.
- PancakesPenner

Agreed. Lidstrom also had the good fortune to play on some really great teams. Still, Karlsson has a long way to go before he's at Lidstrom's level.

Yeah, when I say top 10, I think top 3, but if anyone argues with top 10 it's easy to make them look stupid.

he's really (frank)ing awesome.
- prock

No where near Karlsson,weber,subban or doughty the pens can win a cup without letang, same cant be said if one of these guys were hurt during a playoff run.

Of course Burns isn't mentioned in the same breath as Karlsson, because Burns is better...
- Flamin_Irishmin

Maybe if Karlsson steps up his beard game they can be in the same breath

Winning the cup shouldn't have any baring either, how many Norris trophies did bourque win before he finally got traded and won a cup

As I said, I haven't seen your old account used in a long time. But, you did post on here before being hired, and there was some overlap between your Leaf Fan account and your paid employee account.

I'll leave it at that.
- Vanoxy

You are simply wrong , don't know what to tell you.

Every year Karlsson has augmented his game while literally sacrificing no other aspects. He's 26 and has potentially the better part of a decade left at elite pace. The naysayers who say he is not the best all around defenseman in the game today are delusional.

Burns is having a fantastic year. If he wins the Norris hes more deserved than Doughty last year. He is a dominant player deserves to be recognized as such. Alas, he is a notch below Karlsson. This is fact.

Karlsson could play his entire career without a cup and still be a first ballot Hall of Famer. Basically predicated on the achievements he ALREADY has. I don't think Burns receives that without a cup or a couple Norris' barring a spree of top defenseman awards to twilight his career.
- MarkStoned

100%

Also, people seem to forget that Karlsson's offensive dominance comes in such a low scoring era. Like Ovechkin, you need to adjust his numbers for the era to truly understand how he is one of the greatest of all time.

Just the fact that anyone is arguing who is the best defenseman of this generation shows EK is in fact underrated.

No where near Karlsson,weber,subban or doughty the pens can win a cup without letang, same cant be said if one of these guys were hurt during a playoff run.
- Sensn8ation

Letang is just as good as any of those guys.