San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson was nominated for the Ted Lindsay Trophy yesterday. Here are his top moments from this season.
Erik Karlsson scored 101 points for the San Jose Sharks this season and got nominated for the Ted Lindsay Trophy.
The nominees, as voted by players in the NHLPA, are the Edmonton Oilers Connor McDavid and the Boston Bruins David Pastrnak.
Karlsson became the first defenseman since Brian Leetch in 1991-92 to score 100 points.
With this special season now over, let's take a look at the top five moments from EK65's season.
5. Karlsson gets David Quinn his first win as Sharks' head coach
On Oct. 20 in Maddison Square Garden Erik Karlsson waltzed through the defense in OT before Timo Meier was able to find EK65 for the win. This marked the team's first win of the season and Quinn would get his first win as coach of the Sharks against the team he used to coach.
4. Karlsson Dazzles as he chases 100 against Colorado
With the season-long over at this point, EK65 was doing everything he could to get to 100 points. Against the Colorado Avalanche on April 6, Karlsson found Steven Lorentz with a sweet pass. The reason this is on this list is that Karlsson showed off dynamic poise and skating ability, highlighting what made him a Norris Trophy nominee.
3. Karlsson scores a beauty to beat Toronto in OT
Just a week after Karlsson won it in OT for the San Jose Sharks against the New York Rangers the Swede would do it again against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Right off the draw Karlsson stays with William Nylander and forces a turnover. Once he does that he springs back forward and makes a slick move to score.
2. Karlsson's first career hat-trick
It is hard to imagine that a two-time Norris Trophy winner had never scored a hat-trick before. Well on Nov. 1 that all changed when Karlsson through seeing eye shots past Anthony Stolarz of the Anaheim Ducks. All three shots he took were wrist shots from the point including a late tying goal to force OT.
EK65 scores twice to reach 100 points
On April 10, Karlsson scored just 20 seconds into the game against the Winnipeg Jets to reach 99 points. When his second goal of the game came in the third period Karlsson yet again showed off that seeing-eye wrister. Karlsson would reach the century milestone with two games to spare in the season.
A special year for Karlsson and well deserving of the nomination for the Ted Lindsay Trophy.