Sharks' Karlsson, 32, might be good as ever
SAN JOSE ❯❯ Erik Karlsson is on pace to obliterate the San Jose Sharks team record for most points in a season by a defenseman.
There's also a chance that Karlsson can become the first blueliner in over 30 years to finish a year with over 100 points, and become only the ninth player to win the Norris Trophy three times as the NHL's best defenseman.
Just one question. Can he, at 32 years old, keep this going?
To Sharks coach David Quinn, the answer is obvious, with one caveat.
“Absolutely. Zero question whether he can keep it up,” Quinn said. “If he stays healthy, he's going to keep it up.
“He's a special player. He's the best defenseman in the league, and one of the top players in the league, not just defensemen. This guy, he changes games. He changes games. It's unbelievable to watch.”
Karlsson had a goal and three assists Thursday for his third four-point night of the season as he led the Sharks to a 5-2 win over the Minnesota Wild at SAP Center.
Karlsson scored 44 seconds into the first period, one-timing a nifty crossice saucer pass from Jaycob Megna past Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson for his 13th goal of the season.
Karlsson, though, saved his best for later.
In the second period, after assisting on goals by Noah Gregor and Timo Meier, Karlsson took a pass from Meier and immediately zipped the puck over to Oskar Lindblom, who tapped it past Gustavsson to give the Sharks a 4-1 lead.
The goals by Meier and Lindblom were huge moments for the Sharks (1118-6), who snapped a threegame losing streak.
With the Sharks leading by one, Wild forward Mason Shaw was given a fiveminute major and a game misconduct at the 12:14 mark of the second period for kneeing San Jose's Evgeny Svechnikov. The two ensuing Sharks goals helped provide a safe cushion against a Minnesota team that came into Thursday on a six-game win streak.
Can anyone be surprised by the plays Karlsson is making right now?
“You'd say no,” Megna said, “but then there are nights where he does something and you're like, `Where did that come from?' I'd like to think at this point he doesn't have any more tricks up his sleeve, but you never know on any given night.
“He's so talented and always seems to make the play that a lot of guys can't even see.”
Karlsson, prior to Friday's games, now leads all NHL defensemen in goals and points (46). He also has a nine-game point streak, matching his career-high from the 2015-16 season.
Brent Burns owns the Sharks' record for most points in a season when he had 76 in 2016-17 when he won his Norris. The last blueliner to have more than 100 points in a season was Brian Leetch in 1991-1992, when he had 102, including 80 assists, in 80 games.
Karlsson's personal best for points in a season is 82, set in 2015-16.
Asked if feels he can keep up this breakneck pace, Karlsson said, “You've got to (play the games) first. I've been feeling good for quite some time now and, hopefully, that continues after the Christmas break. We're playing (Vancouver) on Tuesday and that's all I'll be really thinking about, and whatever happens, happens.
“Go day by day and I'm excited to enjoy a little bit of a Christmas break with my family.”
A third Norris Trophy for Karlsson certainly isn't out of the question, even though it appears the Sharks will miss the playoffs for the fourth straight year.
Some members of the Professional Hockey Writer's Association, the group that votes on the Norris Trophy, might be skittish about casting a ballot for a player that's on a non-playoff team. But that potential obstacle didn't come into play in 2021 when the New York Rangers' Adam Fox won the Norris even though his team, coached by Quinn, didn't make the playoffs.
Fox had 47 points in 55 games in the COVID19-shortened season of 2020-2021 and averaged close to 25 minutes of ice time per game. He was also the Rangers' leading penalty killer, ranked third in the NHL in takeaways (38), and was tied for 16th in plus/minus rating (+19).
Karlsson hasn't been used much on the penalty kill this season, as he's sixth among Sharks defensemen in average shorthanded time on ice (:17 per game). His plus/minus, too, won't be anywhere near the league lead by the time the season ends.
Nevertheless, his offensive wizardry might be enough to give him the Norris for the first time since 2015, or at least make him a finalist for the fifth time.
If you ask Quinn, there's no question.
“He's unbelievable. You watch that guy out there, he's playing a video game,” Quinn said. “It's really amazing to watch him when he's on his game.
“He's had a hell of a year for us and I've mentioned this plenty of times, not only on the ice but off the ice. He's really been everything you could want from a coaching standpoint. He's special. It's not a mystery why he's won two Norris trophies and I could see more Norris trophies coming his way.”