NHL free agency: Sharks to sign Erik Karlsson to record setting deal
According to Pierre LeBrun, Erik Karlsson is going to sign an eight-year, record-setting deal with the San Jose Sharks. He was going to hit NHL free agency.
Erik Karlsson was going to be the best defenseman available in NHL free agency. The odds were always going to be against the San Jose Sharks finding a way to keep the two-time Norris Trophy winner away from the open market. However, according to Pierre LeBrun, they have done just that, as they are finalizing an eight-year deal.
This deal is reportedly going to be a record-setter for defensemen. Karlsson was expected to set the market for defensemen moving forward and it sounds like this will be the case, as his reported $11.5 million cap hit will surpass Drew Doughty’s.
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Defensemen have rarely gotten paid what they deserve. They often play more minutes than forwards. The best forwards play about 20 minutes to 22 minutes. Meanwhile, the best defensemen often play in excess of 25 minutes and it’s not uncommon to see them clear 30 minutes.
Karlsson is just the second defensemen to get over $10 million per season in the salary cap era. Doughty is the only other one. Karlsson has won two Norris Trophies, so he’s a very deserving candidate.
That said, his extension comes with some risk. The primary concern with Karlsson is his health. He has had two significant tendon injuries – his ACL in 2013 and tendons in his foot in 2019. The latter is more concerning, as it’s more recent. While his ACL injury was six years ago, often times, the tendon is never as strong as it was before. We’ll have to see if that’s the case with Karlsson.
Additionally, he had a significant fracture to his ankle in 2017. However, Karlsson has proven he can bounce back quickly from injuries. He didn’t miss too much time after the ACL injury and even wound up winning his second Norris Trophy two seasons after tearing his ACL.
For the Sharks, this is a significant gamble. But, as they say, San Jose is in the end game right now. They’re extremely close to winning a Stanley Cup. Karlsson, if healthy, unquestionably puts them closer to that goal. The future of Joe Pavelski is in question now, as the Sharks don’t have much cap space. But Karlsson is the elite player, and Pavelski is merely a great one.
This move should send shockwaves around the NHL. Defensemen should finally get the big deals they have deserved all along. There’s finally some high-end contracts for them to point to. Jake Gardiner benefits from this because now he’s the best defenseman available in free agency. Tyler Myers benefits as well.
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The Sharks are gambling on Karlsson, who has proven to be a borderline generational player because of what he can do with the puck, being healthy enough for long enough to help them win a Stanley Cup. General Manager Doug Wilson has never seen a deal too bold for his liking. By signing Karlsson, he’s pushing in all of his chips. His legacy will forever be tied to the contract. If it works out, he’ll be a hero. If it doesn’t, he’ll become the villain.