Apr 5, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) shoots the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
You didn’t expect anyone else did you? I hope not. After his second Norris Trophy win in four seasons, Karlsson has shown he’s the best defenseman in the game. He’s amongst elite company and no other defenseman in the NHL has more of an impact on his team than he does with Ottawa. It’s obvious that he’s the most important player in the franchise.
He will hopefully be here his entire career, and if he is that will be an amazing treat to watch. Not only is he the most important player for the Senators, he’s one of the most important players in the NHL.
Summary:
You’ll notice the absence of Colin Greening and Chris Phillips in the top 30. And that’s because they simply aren’t important whatsoever to the organization. Phillips may have some value in the dressing room, but his play on the ice has a negative effect on the team. It’s not quite the same for Greening, although he was very bad last season. Because of his contract he has been on the trade block for the longest time, and it seems like no team in the league would value him.
Overall, it seems like there was a pretty clear top-1o with the top-six forwards, three very good defenseman and a great goalie. After that, things got tough. It’s hard to judge the difference in value between a top prospect and a role player, and I tried my best to balance the two. Most people’s lists will vary greatly (especially after the top 10), and I’d love to see how others value certain players.
Did I over/undervalue some players? Let me know. One things for sure: King Karl will always reign supreme.
Next: Ottawa Senators Players Ranked By Importance: 11-20