In history, something similar has been achieved only in 14 cases. Six times it was the fault of the phenomenal Boston greaser Bobby Orr, who collected a record 139 points (37+102) in the 1971-72 season. Paul Coffey crossed the hundred-point mark five times, Denis Potvin, Al MacInnis and Brian Leetch managed it once, who was the last to do it for the New York Rangers in the 1991-92 season. (By the way, the Czech point record for a defenseman in the NHL is held by Tomáš Kaberle, who had 67 points in the 2005-06 season).
Last season, Nashville captain Roman Josi came very close to 100, but stopped at number 96. “A great fullback, but he didn’t stay too long in the defensive zone. As soon as we had the puck, he immediately went on the attack,” described his former teammate goalkeeper David Rittich in an interview with Sport.cz.
Hockey Strike with goalkeeper David RittichVideo: Sport.cz
Karlsson dazzled the NHL in the Ottawa jersey in the 2011-12 season when he won the Norris Trophy for the best defenseman for the first time. And he repeated the triumph in 2014-15. Fast and extremely elegant skating in combination with an overview and an effective finish managed to win.
“Erik is exceptional with his hockey IQ. The way he skates, the way he sees teammates. Knowing when to shoot, when to pass, you just have to feel it. Few people have such a feeling,” understood even his current Russian teammate Yevgenij Svečnikov.
Thanks to a former teammate, Karlsson also has a favorable relationship with the Czech Republic. He and Milan Michálek were at each other’s weddings, his favorite brand of beer is Staropramen. “I really like Prague and I would like to return there,” said the Swedish defender a few years ago in an interview for Sport. cz.
“When I saw Erik for the first time, I thought: Does this skinny guy want to play in the NHL? And then he became the best running back in the league. He made it easy for us, after his passes we drove to the goal ourselves,” Michálek said.
But Karlsson also left Ottawa for personal reasons in 2018, when his wife Melinda lost their unborn son and later accused the girlfriend of his partner’s teammate Mike Hoffman of systematic harassment.
The NHL’s most feared farm is over. Better cold than heat in crime! Discussion from the program PříklepVideo: Sport.cz
But the most famous native of the village of Landsbro (with all due respect to Johan Franzén) could not reach the ‘Ottawa level’ in California for a long time, even though he signed an eight-year contract for 92 million dollars in July 2019, which made him the highest-paid defender in the history of the NHL.
Karlsson was supposed to be a key factor in the Stanley Cup push, but in the 2019 playoffs, the Sharks fell in the conference finals to the St. Louis and haven’t played for the cup since. And people started talking and writing about the colossal mistake of general manager Doug Wilson. Karlsson’s lingering groin problems and other injuries were also to blame.
Who else would have expected the renaissance of a defender who looked like a shadow of his successful years after turning thirty? “He also had personal problems. But in the games I’ve seen this year, he’s been great. He’s dominating again,” Patrik Eliáš, the most productive player in the history of the New Jersey Devils, does not hide his enthusiasm.
The Sharks’ last pre-Christmas duel with Minnesota (5:2) showed Karlsson in excellent condition. He had his third four-point (1+3) night of the season against the Wild. “That was it, huh?” cheered San Jose coach David Quinn. “He’s special, unbelievable. When you look at him, he plays like in a video game.” His coach is convinced that Karlsson will surpass 100.
“Certainly. If he stays healthy, he’ll keep that pace going. One of the best players in the league, not just the best back,” complimented Quinn.
Josh Morrissey from Winnipeg (6+33) is Karlsson’s biggest competitor in the fight for the best back of the season. However, the San Jose coach is clear. “Why Erik won two Norris Trophies is no mystery. But I see other trophies,” quipped Sibyla Quinn.
And it shouldn’t matter if the Sharks, who are fifth from the end in the overall standings, don’t make the playoffs. In 2021, Adam Fox won the award for the best quarterback of the season, and his Rangers did not reach the knockout stage either.
