Penguins See Defensive Skills in Erik Karlsson
Erik Karlsson is known for his offense, but the Pittsburgh Penguins believe he has an underrated defensive ability, as well.
The Pittsburgh Penguins notched the biggest move of the offseason when they traded for the reigning Norris Trophy winner in defenseman Erik Karlsson.
One of the main reasons why Kyle Dubas and the Penguins went out and got Karlsson was his offensive mindset and knack for scoring.
Coming off of a rare 101-point season from a blue liner, it’s fair that everyone would focus on the kind of offense Karlsson can bring to a team.
But, what about the namesake of his position? How much can Karlsson bring to the Penguins defensively and what makes him so tough to play against?
For a number of years now, not many people have looked at Karlsson as an outstanding defender; with a career minus-102 heading into the season, that’s a fair statement.
Karlsson’s new Penguins’ teammates, however, know there is something there on the defensive side of the puck.
Everyone agrees that his speed and skating ability is what can make him a dangerous defender, and no one sees it better than his new linemate Marcus Pettersson.
“He’s a great skater,” Pettersson said. “He can close in on people quick with his skating. It’s overlooked a little bit.”
Thanks to his speed and overall abilities, Karlsson’s biggest asset on the defensive side is his ability to quickly create offense.
That transition game is another feature that quite a few of his teammates have already noticed.
“He’s able to get us out of trouble pretty quick,” Sidney Crosby said. “When they dump the puck in or when there’s loose pucks, a lot times that would just be a chip out, but he’s able to come out with possession and generate offense.”
This is the kind of lane Karlsson likes to fall when describing his own defensive game; spending as little time as possible on defense and forcing opponents to think of their toes.
“Transition pucks fast, not spend too much time in the defensive zone,” Karlsson said. “Making the opposition do plays they don’t want to do.”
The Penguins knew the kind of player they were getting when Karlsson arrived, a defenseman who has a big focus on pinching off of the blue line and looking for scoring opportunities.
In his first regular season match with the Penguins, Karlsson made a handful of good defensive player, but it’s clear he’s going to force forwards to play a ton of defense.
While there is nothing wrong with the offensive defender utilizing his skill, the Penguins want to add a dimension to his overall game that can be useful defensively.
“His ability to close on people and limit their time and space,” Mike Sullivan said. “We’re working with Erik right now and reinforce that message. He’s a very capable defender.”
A lot of Karlsson’s game is predicated on offense, but if the Penguins can make him a more complete player that will only make the team stronger as a whole.
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