2025 Mar 15, 01:01
Erik Karlsson's time with the Pittsburgh Penguins has been rather unconventional. Despite being the reigning Norris Trophy winner and one of the NHL's top defensemen, Karlsson has not had the expected impact on the team. On paper, Karlsson's stats are decent with 22 points and a plus-9 rating in 32 games. His advanced metrics also look good. However, Karlsson is prone to making costly turnovers, having committed a total of 30 so far this season. While this isn't disastrous, it's still a cause for concern
(Interestingly, Evgeni Malkin leads the Penguins in turnovers with 36.) It's worth noting that Karlsson has been a positive presence in the locker room and shows no signs of any off-ice issues. Even if Penguins' GM Kyle Dubas had received nothing in return for Karlsson, the cap relief and other assets acquired in the trade with San Jose would still make it worthwhile. If needed, Karlsson could be flipped to another team in the future. (And it probably will happen.) However, the Penguins' power play is currently ranked 27th in the league, with only a 13.7% conversion rate – a dismal performance. The power play's struggles have included trouble with zone entries and a reluctance to take shots. (The crowd at PPG Paints Arena shouting "SHOOT!" during power plays has become somewhat cliché, but often good advice.) In three-on-three overtime, the Penguins have a disappointing record of 1 win and 3 losses
They've also been to the shootout three times, winning two. So, during three-on-three OT, the Penguins have failed to win in six out of seven instances. Karlsson was brought in to help fix the power play and dominate in overtime situations. He was considered one of the best power-play point men of his generation and was expected to make a difference. However, that hasn't been the case. If things don't improve soon, the Penguins may find themselves missing the playoffs. It's worth noting that Karlsson isn't solely responsible for the team's struggles in three-on-three situations
The Penguins rarely practice this type of play, which could be a contributing factor. However, it's strange to see Karlsson struggle on the power play. He seems hesitant to shoot and often passes up prime scoring opportunities. Opposing penalty killers have figured this out and focus on shutting down his passing options, essentially neutralizing the man-advantage. Perhaps Karlsson should listen to the fans and shoot more often. That being said, it's important not to solely blame Karlsson for the Penguins' underperformance this season. Several other factors have contributed to their lackluster standing in the league. For instance, defenseman Ryan Graves has been a disappointment, not living up to expectations
Drew O'Connor and Radim Zohorna have also failed to make a significant impact. Even Rickard Rakell, who is known for his scoring prowess, has struggled to find the back of the net. Furthermore, Evgeni Malkin has only scored one goal in 11 games. At 37 years old, it's fair to question whether he's hitting a career decline. Lastly, Reilly Smith doesn't seem to have the same level of enthusiasm about playing in Pittsburgh as he did in Las Vegas. (Although, I can't say I blame him.) Overall, Karlsson is an elite player who simply isn't delivering as expected. I was hoping to attribute many of the Penguins' victories to his contributions, but that hasn't been the case. Karlsson needs to find his footing soon because the Penguins can't afford to keep struggling. They currently sit five points out of a playoff spot, which may not sound like much, but in the era of the loser point, it's a significant deficit
Time is running out, and the Penguins need to climb over five teams to secure a playoff berth. It's a challenging task that they must face head-on.