The Erik Karlsson Watch

asq2 wrote:

N4L wrote:Well obviously Cowen will more than likely become that perfect compliment to Karlsson. If Lee actually turns into something resembling a top 4 D man, we are set for a long time with Karlsson, Cowen, Wierchoich, and Lee. In 5 or 6 years that could be the most complete blueline in the league, even better then LA's.

Lee really has to find his niech though as a professional. This isnt high school where you can skate end to end and just tuck it in. He needs to either become a physical presence and with his size there is no reason he cant be. He wont be an offensive force by any means because of his shot, but a D man that can skate like he can and become that shut down fuy will always have a job, prob top 4.

I can just as easily see Cowen becoming the foundation guy and Karlsson the complementary offensive force. Remember, this guy was touted as #3 over-all and a franchise defenceman before his injury. What he did at 16 in the WHL was nuts.

Thankfully, we don't have to choose between them, or Wiercioch for that matter.
Yet.

asq2 wrote:

N4L wrote:Well obviously Cowen will more than likely become that perfect compliment to Karlsson. If Lee actually turns into something resembling a top 4 D man, we are set for a long time with Karlsson, Cowen, Wierchoich, and Lee. In 5 or 6 years that could be the most complete blueline in the league, even better then LA's.

Lee really has to find his niech though as a professional. This isnt high school where you can skate end to end and just tuck it in. He needs to either become a physical presence and with his size there is no reason he cant be. He wont be an offensive force by any means because of his shot, but a D man that can skate like he can and become that shut down fuy will always have a job, prob top 4.

I can just as easily see Cowen becoming the foundation guy and Karlsson the complementary offensive force. Remember, this guy was touted as #3 over-all and a franchise defenceman before his injury. What he did at 16 in the WHL was nuts.

Thankfully, we don't have to choose between them, or Wiercioch for that matter.








Yet.

asq2 wrote:

N4L wrote:Well obviously Cowen will more than likely become that perfect compliment to Karlsson. If Lee actually turns into something resembling a top 4 D man, we are set for a long time with Karlsson, Cowen, Wierchoich, and Lee. In 5 or 6 years that could be the most complete blueline in the league, even better then LA's.

Lee really has to find his niech though as a professional. This isnt high school where you can skate end to end and just tuck it in. He needs to either become a physical presence and with his size there is no reason he cant be. He wont be an offensive force by any means because of his shot, but a D man that can skate like he can and become that shut down fuy will always have a job, prob top 4.

I can just as easily see Cowen becoming the foundation guy and Karlsson the complementary offensive force. Remember, this guy was touted as #3 over-all and a franchise defenceman before his injury. What he did at 16 in the WHL was nuts.

Thankfully, we don't have to choose between them, or Wiercioch for that matter.








Yet.

N4L wrote:Thats exactly it... he needs to become that shot blocker, shut down fuy for sure. It's obviously unrealistic to expect him to be as tough as Smith, no one is actually that tough except a few mentally ill people.

There is, once again, no reason Lee cant make himself a valueable player to The Sens doing that job, and with A Train being close to leaving town, it is time Lee does everything he can to make it in Ottawa. The only way he is gonna get people to look at him is by doing the things no one else likes to do. He isnt as good offensively as Karlsson, Kuba, Picard or Campoli. He doesnt have the expierence Phillips has, and he hasnt shown what he is willing to do for his team like A Train has. The only one of those things he can change is his dedication to The Sens. That means blocking a shot in the 2nd period in game 22, that means shutting your mouth when you go to the box, that means taking a hit to make a play... These things are far from impossible to do, but take a ton of character to want to do. That's what Lee has to do, if he does and gets bigger and stronger, he will find a job in the top 4 being as good a skater he is and the ability to move the puck.

cas wrote:

N4L wrote:Thats exactly it... he needs to become that shot blocker, shut down fuy for sure. It's obviously unrealistic to expect him to be as tough as Smith, no one is actually that tough except a few mentally ill people.

There is, once again, no reason Lee cant make himself a valueable player to The Sens doing that job, and with A Train being close to leaving town, it is time Lee does everything he can to make it in Ottawa. The only way he is gonna get people to look at him is by doing the things no one else likes to do. He isnt as good offensively as Karlsson, Kuba, Picard or Campoli. He doesnt have the expierence Phillips has, and he hasnt shown what he is willing to do for his team like A Train has. The only one of those things he can change is his dedication to The Sens. That means blocking a shot in the 2nd period in game 22, that means shutting your mouth when you go to the box, that means taking a hit to make a play... These things are far from impossible to do, but take a ton of character to want to do. That's what Lee has to do, if he does and gets bigger and stronger, he will find a job in the top 4 being as good a skater he is and the ability to move the puck.

For whatever reason, I just don't think he has that character

davetherave wrote:

asq2 wrote:

N4L wrote:Well obviously Cowen will more than likely become that perfect compliment to Karlsson. If Lee actually turns into something resembling a top 4 D man, we are set for a long time with Karlsson, Cowen, Wierchoich, and Lee. In 5 or 6 years that could be the most complete blueline in the league, even better then LA's.

Lee really has to find his niech though as a professional. This isnt high school where you can skate end to end and just tuck it in. He needs to either become a physical presence and with his size there is no reason he cant be. He wont be an offensive force by any means because of his shot, but a D man that can skate like he can and become that shut down fuy will always have a job, prob top 4.

I can just as easily see Cowen becoming the foundation guy and Karlsson the complementary offensive force. Remember, this guy was touted as #3 over-all and a franchise defenceman before his injury. What he did at 16 in the WHL was nuts.

Thankfully, we don't have to choose between them, or Wiercioch for that matter.








Yet.

Karlsson and Cowen have the talent and skill to become as good as any d-pair in the league.

davetherave wrote:@N4L> my sense of Clouston is that everybody gets a fair shake. But if they slack off, they're gone.

Karlsson's already put his stake in the ground. He wants to be here. Good on him.

Anybody who doesn't, knows where the exit is.

asq2 wrote:

davetherave wrote:

asq2 wrote:

N4L wrote:Well obviously Cowen will more than likely become that perfect compliment to Karlsson. If Lee actually turns into something resembling a top 4 D man, we are set for a long time with Karlsson, Cowen, Wierchoich, and Lee. In 5 or 6 years that could be the most complete blueline in the league, even better then LA's.

Lee really has to find his niech though as a professional. This isnt high school where you can skate end to end and just tuck it in. He needs to either become a physical presence and with his size there is no reason he cant be. He wont be an offensive force by any means because of his shot, but a D man that can skate like he can and become that shut down fuy will always have a job, prob top 4.

I can just as easily see Cowen becoming the foundation guy and Karlsson the complementary offensive force. Remember, this guy was touted as #3 over-all and a franchise defenceman before his injury. What he did at 16 in the WHL was nuts.

Thankfully, we don't have to choose between them, or Wiercioch for that matter.








Yet.

Karlsson and Cowen have the talent and skill to become as good as any d-pair in the league.

Definitely to be a top-5 pairing. Assuming all prospects reach their respective potentials, I don't know that they'll beat out E. Johnson - Pietrangelo, though.

Still, looks like good times ahead on the Sens' blue-line. Now we just need to follow TSN's advice and finish 6th last to pick up that corner-stone forward for the future.

asq2 wrote:
Definitely to be a top-5 pairing. Assuming all prospects reach their respective potentials, I don't know that they'll beat out E. Johnson - Pietrangelo, though.

Still, looks like good times ahead on the Sens' blue-line. Now we just need to follow TSN's advice and finish 6th last to pick up that corner-stone forward for the future.

N4L wrote:

davetherave wrote:@N4L> my sense of Clouston is that everybody gets a fair shake. But if they slack off, they're gone.

Karlsson's already put his stake in the ground. He wants to be here. Good on him.

Anybody who doesn't, knows where the exit is.

Absolutly, but a young guy trying to find his way into the league can be difficault. HS hockey in the States isnt like Jr or College, it's tough to pick guys out that you think are going to be big players.

Lee absolutly needs some guidance right now, because what got him in the NHL wont keep him there. Lee doesnt have to change his game completely, he needs to add to it in a big way. He needs to become that guy that other teams hate playing against. He needs to become a Komiserek. I get it takes D men a little longer to develope but that's what Lee has to do IMO.

If Lee can do that and get 20-30 points a year, he can be on anyones top 4.

N4L wrote:Dont think he is going to go to Pheonix.

cas wrote:

asq2 wrote:
Definitely to be a top-5 pairing. Assuming all prospects reach their respective potentials, I don't know that they'll beat out E. Johnson - Pietrangelo, though.

Still, looks like good times ahead on the Sens' blue-line. Now we just need to follow TSN's advice and finish 6th last to pick up that corner-stone forward for the future.

Or we trade Heatley after a 60 goal, 110 point season for the #1 overall and select T.Hall

N4L wrote:Well, at least that QB Dman who moves the puck and thats it. He doesnt have the shot to be a legit threat from the point, thus guys will just focus on taking away those passing lanes.

Having the ability to move the puck is obviously an important asset but you have to be able to do more then that or you just turn into Redden. Not a shot at Redden there, it's just the truth.