Erik Karlsson's first season with the Pittsburgh Penguins was a mixed bag. Despite finishing 13th among NHL defensemen in points and playing all 82 games, his presence didn't fully prevent the team from a lackluster season. Karlsson led the Penguins' blue line, surpassing Kris Letang in key metrics, but struggled to elevate the team's power play. The experiment with defensive pairings highlighted Karlsson's offensive prowess but exposed defensive vulnerabilities. His overall performance was strong, yet insufficient to significantly change the team's fortunes.

By the Numbers
  • 56 points in 82 games (11 goals, 45 assists)
  • 13th among NHL defensemen in points
  • Gross cap hit: $10.0 million per season through 2026-27
  • 5v5 Corsi For%: 54.7% (1st on team)
  • 5v5 Goals For%: 52.1% (3rd on team)
Yes, But

While Karlsson demonstrated offensive excellence, his defensive lapses were notable. The power play under his guidance struggled considerably, lacking dynamism and threat diversity. His high salary and acquisition costs mean expectations were higher than what was ultimately achieved on the ice.

State of Play
  • Karlsson formed a strong pairing with Marcus Pettersson
  • Ranked highly in offensive metrics like Scoring Chance% and xGF%
  • The team's performance dipped without him, but defensive metrics remained stable
  • Karlsson's play generated numerous scoring opportunities but was offset by defensive missteps.
What's Next

Looking ahead to the next season, improvements in the power play and defensive partnerships are critical. A new assistant coach could revamp the power play strategy. As Karlsson settles further into his role, there's potential for better synergy and greater impact, especially if he maintains his offensive production while shoring up defensive liabilities.

Bottom Line

Karlsson's inaugural season with the Penguins was productive yet fell short of transformative. Despite excelling on paper, the overall team performance was underwhelming, leaving room for improvement. Moving forward, optimizing his contributions and addressing defensive flaws will be key to justifying his significant acquisition and financial investment.