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Erik Karlsson is a player Sens fans are right to get excited about. His play in the World Juniors in Ottawa showed him to be a very intelligent and able defenseman who has already elicited comparisons with elite NHL blueliners.
The hype having to be matched by reality being something else, it appears the expectations are being managed, not least of which by Bryan Murray himself.
The Ottawa Citizen today devotes a splashy sports section front page to Erik, and as the article contains many of the discussion points that have been raised, it is posted in its entirety here.
SMALL SHOULDERS, BIG EXPECTATIONS
Senators to determine if rookie blue-liner can carry NHL weight
Allen Panzeri, The Citizen/September 7, 2009
As the Ottawa Senators begin play here in this four-team rookie tournament, with a game tonight against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the eyes of general manager Bryan Murray and his hockey staff will be on defenceman Erik Karlsson.
He's not the only one they'll be watching, of course.
Players such as forwards Zack Smith and Peter Regin are also being given decent chances to make the team, but their futures are entwined with Dany Heatley's. It all depends on if there are roster spots open when Heatley is traded or compelled to return. If there are, then Smith and Regin will have a chance to compete for them.
But for Karlsson, a roster spot is his for the taking. Drafted 15th overall in 2008, he is viewed as the team's future power-play quarterback, a seat that Filip Kuba is keeping warm.
This is a tricky business, though.
Karlsson is generously listed at 5-11 and 175 pounds. The type of forward he's likely to be facing measures in at around the same size as his teammate Smith: 6-2 and 199. There's a long history of small but skilful forwards in the NHL, not so much small but skilful defenceman.
So Murray has a lot to think about in determining where Karlsson will play this year: in the NHL or in the American Hockey League with Binghamton.
"I think talent-wise, he's good enough to make the team," said Murray.
"Offensively, he can bring a real dimension to our club.
"But what you have to look at is his overall play, No. 1, and, No. 2, how much is he going to be playing?
"He's a young player with a great future. He has the head, the hands, the shot. The power play will benefit from his presence. I know that right now.
"But I don't want him not playing substantial minutes. When I say substantial, he has to play 12 to 14 minutes often. If he doesn't play that, it will be more beneficial for him to play elsewhere."
At this rookie tournament, Karlsson is expected to dominate. He played a full season in the Swedish Elite League last year and was one of Sweden's better players in the world juniors, so he should be one of the better players here.
Murray figures he'll start to get an idea about Karlsson's ability this week.
"We'll see how they run at him, how they do different things, but I expect he'll have the puck a fair amount and he'll help the offensive part of the game," said Murray.
"Erik's big thing is his overall size and his ability without the puck. He's smart, he plays angles well. But, can he handle the traffic at the net when the game is on the line?
"That'll be the question."
Fellow Swede and Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson thinks Karlsson will be fine.
Alfredsson thinks the bigger challenge will be off the ice. The NHL's 82-game schedule -- twice as many games as a Swedish team plays -- is a grind.
"It will be a jump for him more in the fact that he's 19," said Alfredsson, who, like Karlsson, played for Frölunda.
"I was 22 when I came over, so I was more physically ready. I think that's the biggest thing.
"On the ice, he'll be fine. I think it's more the 82 games, the travel. But at the same time, when you're 19, nothing's hard.
"As far as the game, from Swedish hockey to European hockey, I think he'll adjust fine.
"I met him a couple of times before he came over here, and he likes the smaller ice surface. He loved the world juniors, playing on the smaller ice surface, and I think that fits him well."
Karlsson knows he has to have a fast start here, that he's going to be watched closely. But he's relaxed and "up for the competition."
When he left Sweden, he gave his parents a tentative goodbye, not knowing how long he might be gone for, since there is a chance (remote) he could end up back with Frölunda if he doesn't make the Senators. (He's wearing No. 65 because both his parents were born in that year.)
"My expectations are that I hope I can play as good as I know I can, and that everything will work out for me and, hopefully, I'll take a spot on the team," he said.
"I hope I'm going to stay here for a while.
"It's going to be good for me to play some games, to really get into everything before the main camp starts. I know I need to step my game up right away and play as good as I can from the start. I just have to do my best and hope it works out."
As much is Murray is clearly excited about getting Karlsson into a NHL uniform, he also cautions that everyone remember this: Karlsson is only 19 years old. It would be a mistake to expect too much too soon.
"He's a rookie," said Murray. "He's a guy the coach will have to protect in some situations. We know that.
"We think that if we're just realistic and let him play, and not say he's got to get so many points or so many shots on goal, but just let him go play and be satisfied with that -- which we normally are with young players -- then he'll be fine.
"But if we start pushing the button because the power play doesn't work one night and he misses the net with three shots, it'll be totally different.
"But that's not how I've ever approached young players."
---
Bryan Murray has made his position pretty clear: he wants Karlsson here, and he wants him playing--because that's how Karlsson will get his best opportunity to learn and adjust to the NHL.
Ever since Pierre Pilote, it's been shown time and time again that defensemen don't have to be monsters to make their mark in the big league. It helped, of course, that Pilote had mighty Moose Vasko as his partner.
And with recent pairings like Pronger-Niedermayer and Seabrook-Keith continuing to demonstrate the validity of that dynamic, it'll be interesting to see if and how Erik Karlsson lines up in Ottawa, and with whom.
...and of course, how he meets and/or exceeds expectations.
The hype having to be matched by reality being something else, it appears the expectations are being managed, not least of which by Bryan Murray himself.
The Ottawa Citizen today devotes a splashy sports section front page to Erik, and as the article contains many of the discussion points that have been raised, it is posted in its entirety here.
SMALL SHOULDERS, BIG EXPECTATIONS
Senators to determine if rookie blue-liner can carry NHL weight
Allen Panzeri, The Citizen/September 7, 2009
As the Ottawa Senators begin play here in this four-team rookie tournament, with a game tonight against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the eyes of general manager Bryan Murray and his hockey staff will be on defenceman Erik Karlsson.
He's not the only one they'll be watching, of course.
Players such as forwards Zack Smith and Peter Regin are also being given decent chances to make the team, but their futures are entwined with Dany Heatley's. It all depends on if there are roster spots open when Heatley is traded or compelled to return. If there are, then Smith and Regin will have a chance to compete for them.
But for Karlsson, a roster spot is his for the taking. Drafted 15th overall in 2008, he is viewed as the team's future power-play quarterback, a seat that Filip Kuba is keeping warm.
This is a tricky business, though.
Karlsson is generously listed at 5-11 and 175 pounds. The type of forward he's likely to be facing measures in at around the same size as his teammate Smith: 6-2 and 199. There's a long history of small but skilful forwards in the NHL, not so much small but skilful defenceman.
So Murray has a lot to think about in determining where Karlsson will play this year: in the NHL or in the American Hockey League with Binghamton.
"I think talent-wise, he's good enough to make the team," said Murray.
"Offensively, he can bring a real dimension to our club.
"But what you have to look at is his overall play, No. 1, and, No. 2, how much is he going to be playing?
"He's a young player with a great future. He has the head, the hands, the shot. The power play will benefit from his presence. I know that right now.
"But I don't want him not playing substantial minutes. When I say substantial, he has to play 12 to 14 minutes often. If he doesn't play that, it will be more beneficial for him to play elsewhere."
At this rookie tournament, Karlsson is expected to dominate. He played a full season in the Swedish Elite League last year and was one of Sweden's better players in the world juniors, so he should be one of the better players here.
Murray figures he'll start to get an idea about Karlsson's ability this week.
"We'll see how they run at him, how they do different things, but I expect he'll have the puck a fair amount and he'll help the offensive part of the game," said Murray.
"Erik's big thing is his overall size and his ability without the puck. He's smart, he plays angles well. But, can he handle the traffic at the net when the game is on the line?
"That'll be the question."
Fellow Swede and Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson thinks Karlsson will be fine.
Alfredsson thinks the bigger challenge will be off the ice. The NHL's 82-game schedule -- twice as many games as a Swedish team plays -- is a grind.
"It will be a jump for him more in the fact that he's 19," said Alfredsson, who, like Karlsson, played for Frölunda.
"I was 22 when I came over, so I was more physically ready. I think that's the biggest thing.
"On the ice, he'll be fine. I think it's more the 82 games, the travel. But at the same time, when you're 19, nothing's hard.
"As far as the game, from Swedish hockey to European hockey, I think he'll adjust fine.
"I met him a couple of times before he came over here, and he likes the smaller ice surface. He loved the world juniors, playing on the smaller ice surface, and I think that fits him well."
Karlsson knows he has to have a fast start here, that he's going to be watched closely. But he's relaxed and "up for the competition."
When he left Sweden, he gave his parents a tentative goodbye, not knowing how long he might be gone for, since there is a chance (remote) he could end up back with Frölunda if he doesn't make the Senators. (He's wearing No. 65 because both his parents were born in that year.)
"My expectations are that I hope I can play as good as I know I can, and that everything will work out for me and, hopefully, I'll take a spot on the team," he said.
"I hope I'm going to stay here for a while.
"It's going to be good for me to play some games, to really get into everything before the main camp starts. I know I need to step my game up right away and play as good as I can from the start. I just have to do my best and hope it works out."
As much is Murray is clearly excited about getting Karlsson into a NHL uniform, he also cautions that everyone remember this: Karlsson is only 19 years old. It would be a mistake to expect too much too soon.
"He's a rookie," said Murray. "He's a guy the coach will have to protect in some situations. We know that.
"We think that if we're just realistic and let him play, and not say he's got to get so many points or so many shots on goal, but just let him go play and be satisfied with that -- which we normally are with young players -- then he'll be fine.
"But if we start pushing the button because the power play doesn't work one night and he misses the net with three shots, it'll be totally different.
"But that's not how I've ever approached young players."
---
Bryan Murray has made his position pretty clear: he wants Karlsson here, and he wants him playing--because that's how Karlsson will get his best opportunity to learn and adjust to the NHL.
Ever since Pierre Pilote, it's been shown time and time again that defensemen don't have to be monsters to make their mark in the big league. It helped, of course, that Pilote had mighty Moose Vasko as his partner.
And with recent pairings like Pronger-Niedermayer and Seabrook-Keith continuing to demonstrate the validity of that dynamic, it'll be interesting to see if and how Erik Karlsson lines up in Ottawa, and with whom.
...and of course, how he meets and/or exceeds expectations.
