Better all around Defenceman

[The Black Panther]

We all know EKarlsson could hit 70 any season but VHedman could hit 60 this season, no?
And we know when it comes to shutting down the others best there's no comparison.

Pick between the 2 and then post your top 5 all around def in nhl. Should be a good pt producer too.

[VintageVibe]

Last minute of the the game and it's tied or we're up a goal I'm putting Hedman out to keep the opposition in check and let my forwards generate the offense.

If we're down a goal I tell Karlsson to take over and do his thing.

Top 5 All-Around dmen:

1. Doughty
2. Keith
3. Hedman
4. Pietrangelo
5. Josi/Weber/Giordano

[P-Giddy]

I echo VintageVibe here. If you want to keep a lead, Hedman's your guy. If you need to get one, Karlsson without a doubt.

Top 5 All Around Defensemen:
1. Keith
2. Doughty
3. Hedman
4. Suter
5. Karlsson

[Dennis4022]

The best way to keep a lead is to score another goal, create any poll you want for defender, i will always pick Karlsson. He's defensive game is pretty underrated, i guess that's what happens, when you offensive skills are two levels above all the others.

Top 5 right now:

Keith
Doughty
Weber
Kronwall
Josi

[Bubba55]

I too believe that Karlssons' defensive game is somewhat under rated, and I also believe that he will continue to improve. When you can skate and have hockey sense like him your are both a defensive and offensive monster! Hedman is good, but I honestly believe when you compare these guys 5 years down the road it will not even be close. Am I sounding like Ev?????

[Big Ev]

I too believe that Karlssons' defensive game is somewhat under rated, and I also believe that he will continue to improve. When you can skate and have hockey sense like him your are both a defensive and offensive monster! Hedman is good, but I honestly believe when you compare these guys 5 years down the road it will not even be close. Am I sounding like Ev?????

You don't sound like me, because I personally think its not even close at the moment. Remember a short period of time aho, Hedman was getting roasted for his defensive play and hockey IQ. Regardless of what the score is I want the best in the game out there and that's Karlsson.

The term all around is dumb. If you're getting 30 minutes of ice time per game and winning Norris trophies, you are obviously a beast all around. I question anybody not having him in the top 3 of all around defesemen. Duncan Keith, are you kidding? The only defenseman close to Karlsson is Drew Doughty.

Karlsson
Doughty
Keith

Rest don't matter

[Daydream Nation]

I think this is difficult to accurately answer. How many games of each dman do you actually watch? So much of a dman's game are subtle plays that never end up on the stat sheet. I don't have the league package so while I watch a lot of hockey, it is limited to the Blackhawks and what's on the NBC sports which is mostly major market East Coast games. So I watch just about every one of Keith's games but I rarely ever see Karlsson, Hedman, or PK play and if it wasn't for the playoffs I wouldn't see too much of Doughty.

With all this being said, I was very impressed with Hedman during these playoffs. He's a top 5 dman. I'll take Keith anyday over Doughty, Hedman, Pietrangelo, Suter, or Weber. I'm not going to make some statement on Karlsson and PK based on looking at their stats and the small sample size of viewing. But if I have to win a game 7, I'll take my chances with Duncan Keith.

[The Comish]

I easily voted for Karlsson, but to me Hedman isn't even in the top 5 D discussion in real life. In fantasy, Hedman's in the conversation. Here's my top five in order:

1. Drew Doughty
2. Shea Weber
3. Duncan Keith
4. Erik Karlsson
5. Ryan Suter

[Jordyr77]

I've seen Karlsson get embarrassed too many times. Generatioal talent offensively, mediocre defensively (sure his d is underrated but not that much, he still lacks there).

1. Drew Doughty (imo the best defensemen in the game and robbed of Norris trophies due to Sutter's system in LA)
2. Shea Weber
3. Duncan Keith
4. Victor Hedman
5. Erik Karlsson
(AP is close to being in there)

[Big Ev]

You can make highlight clips for any dman getting embarrassed from time to time. Every goal is caused by a mistake made by somebody on the other team. Karlsson is above average defensively. If he was on Chicago or New York I couldn't even begin to imagine the hype and praise he'd get every day and night.

Anyway as for the actual debate at hand, he was the best defenceman for his own country at the Olympics, a tournament Sweden didn't even invite Hedman to. That says a lot of things. Best on best, Karlsson a Doughty and Keith were the best. Hedman is good but not generational.

[rainydrinkwater]

If you're gonna ask which guy can do a bit of everything at a good to high level, I may say Hedman. That has nothing to with the fact that Karlsson is in league all his own in terms of what he brings to his team. League. Of. His. Own.

[Jordyr77]

Hedman kind of just had his coming out party, which would explain his absence. Not to mention Claude Giroux was left off a time if you're going to use the Olympics as a gauge for who's better than who. I still think Karlsson is a generational talent offensively, but his game is really not that well rounded when compared to some others.

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I would not say above average defensively, that's a little bold. He's definitely average though, not below.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuWJXXqQ8kA lol

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that is some terrible terrible d

[Jordyr77]

also, correct me if I'm wrong but they don't even use him on the PK

[fungchen3]

1. Doughty
2. Keith
3. Karlsson
4. Weber
5. Hedman

Karlsson isn't nearly as bad defensively as some make him out to be. He controls the play and tempo better than any D on the planet IMO. He's still a kid and we'll see his best hockey (all-around) from age 28-32.

Here's the thing about Hedman though - if he continues to play like he did in the playoffs (and Finals) he could SOON be the best all-around defenseman in the world and win a couple of Norris' himself. I need to see a little more of him at this elite level though. But he's already a monster. I also think Ekman-Larsson will soon be Top-5 material.

[Big Ev]

Hedman kind of just had his coming out party, which would explain his absence. Not to mention Claude Giroux was left off a time if you're going to use the Olympics as a gauge for who's better than who. I still think Karlsson is a generational talent offensively, but his game is really not that well rounded when compared to some others.

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I would not say above average defensively, that's a little bold. He's definitely average though, not below.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuWJXXqQ8kA lol

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that is some terrible terrible d

Again I could get clips for any dman in the league making mistakes. But I'm not sure why you posted that clip? How is that bad D? he hits Crosby and breaks up the play, and he was covering for Cowen, on his wrong side. The Sens got the puck. So he defended pretty well. You're also posting clips of homer announcers who like to trash on players like Karlsson who don't fit their preconceived notion of a what a defense should be.

With Karlsson it is always magnified by people who want to see him fail because they don't understand that defencemem can score points and play their position just fine. It's also the same morons who think he's mike green somehow. No, that guy is not great defensively and never won a Norris let alone two.

It is not bold to say he's above average defensively. Go check out all the stats you want, advanced stats, whatever, and watch him play full games rather than highlights.

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also, correct me if I'm wrong but they don't even use him on the PK

No because they don't need to. PK d are usually the biggest guys on the team. He could do it, and his ice time has been creeping up every year, but they'd rather play him five on five and PP.