1. Karlsson
2. Hedman
3. Letang (Oft injured but still one of the best)
4. Weber
5. Ekblad (Florida had a down year and so did Ekblad. Regardless, still top 5 in the East)

weber anyone????

And now a Canes fan stumbles in, and cries relevancy
- puckhead17

if you dont make the playoffs, your guy won't have any giveaways in april or may

well, I guess if your guy isn't playing he can't give the puck away
- jimbro83

Skjei played 23 minutes shorthanded last year.

Slavin played 255.

But no, you're right, we should definitely measure players by how far their team went in the playoffs.

Skjei played 23 minutes shorthanded last year.

Slavin played 255.

But no, you're right, we should definitely measure players by how far their team went in the playoffs.
- BINGO!

if Slavin scored 4 goals in the playoffs you wouldn't mention it?

look at this play, rookie in a 2nd round playoff game

Skjei played 23 minutes shorthanded last year.

Slavin played 255.

But no, you're right, we should definitely measure players by how far their team went in the playoffs.
- BINGO!

You go man, 12 years is a long time to wait to thump your chest in a hockey debate.

And Karlsson in the playoffs almost willed his team to the SCF on a broken foot.
- Victoro311

hedman is just better all round to me.

karlsson to me is 2nd best in the east to hedman.

if Slavin scored 4 goals in the playoffs you wouldn't mention it?
- jimbro83

No, probably not. Because you can't really compare when there's nothing to compare to.

Do you want to go by +/-? Slavin managed to be a +23 in front of some of the worst goaltending in the league while also playing on one of the lowest scoring teams...

Only reason the team didn't have more goals against was because the PK was so good. 6th in the NHL, in fact. Guess who was 5th in the NHL in shorthanded ice time?

the last game of the playoffs for Ottawa, game 7 vs Pittsburgh, Karlsson played with a significant injury, played 39:33, no other player on either team was even close in minutes

Karlsson plays in every situation and excels
- jimbro83

Which team won the series, though?

hedman is just better all round to me.

karlsson to me is 2nd best in the east to hedman.
- Tumbleweed

Hedman is no doubt amazingly skilled. I just don't think he's quite at the level karlsson is. In a year from now, two at most I completely agree with you.

Which team won the series, though?
- DARKSEID

OMG, it went to overtime game 7 and Pittsburgh has 9000 all stars and Ottawa has Karlsson

No, probably not. Because you can't really compare when there's nothing to compare to.

Do you want to go by +/-? Slavin managed to be a +23 in front of some of the worst goaltending in the league while also playing on one of the lowest scoring teams...

Only reason the team didn't have more goals against was because the PK was so good. 6th in the NHL, in fact. Guess who was 5th in the NHL in shorthanded ice time?
- BINGO!

nah, you wouldn't be thrilled if Slavin had scored 4 playoff goals in his rookie season, you'd have been very quiet about it

Do you want to talk about how Skjei managed to give the puck away 20 times in those same 12 playoff games?

But hey, if you think a defenseman shooting 21% is sustainable...
- BINGO!

OMG, it went to overtime game 7 and Pittsburgh has 9000 all stars and Ottawa has Karlsson
- jimbro83

1. phaneuf
2. phaneuf
3. phaneuf
4. phaneuf
5. karlsson

OMG, it went to overtime game 7 and Pittsburgh has 9000 all stars and Ottawa has Karlsson
- jimbro83

Karlsson just learned to play defense recently. It'll take him a while to master that skill. He's not the best defender and he's not the best overall defenseman. Hedman is an elite defender with well-above-average offense in his game. He is the best in the East.

- YuenglingJagr

I think sustainable is becoming one of most overused terms on hockey blogs

it's catching up to "sheltered minutes" and "drives possession"

Karlsson just learned to play defense recently. It'll take him a while to master that skill. He's not the best defender and he's not the best overall defenseman. Hedman is an elite defender with well-above-average offense in his game. He is the best in the East.
- DARKSEID

but Tampa lost to Pittsburgh in conference finals too didn't they?

wasn't that the criteria to chop Karlsson down a couple of notches?

I think sustainable is becoming one of most overused terms on hockey blogs

it's catching up to "sheltered minutes" and "drives possession"
- jimbro83

Let me put it this way.... Do you think it is likely that Skjei continues to have 1 out of every 5 shots go in the net?

Let me put it this way.... Do you think it is likely that Skjei continues to have 1 out of every 5 shots go in the net?
- BINGO!

did you watch that clip I put up? did you think that was a lucky goal or was it skill?

but Tampa lost to Pittsburgh in conference finals too didn't they?

wasn't that the criteria to chop Karlsson down a couple of notches?
- jimbro83

hedman dominates at all aspects of the game.

karlsson being dominated in the dzone by crosby, which he still struggles with against other players, is the criteria to knock him down below hedman imo.

but Tampa lost to Pittsburgh in conference finals too didn't they?

wasn't that the criteria to chop Karlsson down a couple of notches?
- jimbro83

You are the one that introduced the playoff outcomes. Bury yourself much?

You are the one that introduced the playoff outcomes. Bury yourself much?
- DARKSEID

only in a way that illustrates Karlsson is a virtual one man team that took the Penguins to game 7 overtime in conference finals playing on one foot

only in a way that illustrates Karlsson is a virtual one man team that took the Penguins to game 7 overtime in conference finals playing on one foot
- jimbro83

Oh, yeah, Karlsson played all 18 skater positions and goalie in that playoff series. He is obviously an unfathomable poly-dimensional player.

and Ryan McDonagh shut him down when the Rangers eliminated the Pens in 2014 and 2015

but lets leave him off
- jimbro83

Rangers fans love living in the past huh? 94, nevermore.