Erik Karlsson Agrees To A New Deal With The San Jose Sharks, Becomes Highest Paid Defenseman In The NHL

By Jordan Long

The San Jose Sharks made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals before falling to the St. Louis Blues in 6 games.   The Sharks knew they failed to reach their ultimate goal of winning a Stanley Cup.  They were looking to reload for a chance to make it to the Stanley Cup Final next year.  That started with a new contract with defenseman Erik Karlsson.

                Karlsson finished his first season in San Jose after being traded from the Ottawa Senators.   He made an instant impact on the team.  In the regular season, Karlsson scored 3 goals and added 42 assists.  He was the quarterback on the power play and set up near the blue line.  Karlsson would either shoot from there hoping for a tip-in from one of his teammates who skated in front of the goaltender or pass it to a teammate near the goal for scoring chances.  He ended up with 2 goals and 18 assists on the power play.

                When it came to defense, he helped the Sharks end scoring opportunities for rival teams.  Karlsson poked checked the puck.  This allowed the Sharks to skate with the puck to the offensive end.  He also could block shots as well as check skaters so the puck wouldn’t enter the goaltender.

                When it came to the playoffs, Karlsson kept up his play.  He totaled 2 goals and 14 assists.  Of those assists, 6 came on the power play.  Karlsson was part of the reason the Sharks went all the way to the Western Conference Finals.

                The Sharks knew Karlsson was going to be a free agent once their postseason run was over.  They wanted to keep him since he was their best offensive defenseman.  It all came down to the contract.  The Sharks agreed to an 8-year deal that will pay him more than $11 million a year.  Karlsson will now be the highest paid defenseman in the NHL with this agreement.

                Karlsson is one of the top defensemen in the league and is being paid like it.  This was to keep him in San Jose.  The downside is his cap number.  That may end up hurting the Sharks in the future since they couldn’t sign free agents with all the money they are going to give Karlsson.  Hopefully this works out and the Sharks can make another run to the Stanley Cup Final and win the Cup in the next 8 years. o