Erik Karlsson has always been an extremely versatile player.
Those who watch 82-plus games of the Swedish sensation every year understand he’s a diverse, two-way defenseman, while the mainstream media surrounding the NHL have been reluctant to give him such a title since he came into the league in 2009.
Now, just over a week into the 2016-17 season, the vibe occasional viewers are giving off is beginning to change. Even the experts based in the nation’s capital are noticing a difference.
Ever since Karlsson’s blunder in Game 1 that led to Auston Matthews scoring The Greatest Goal in Maple Leafs History, his defensive game has seemed to be more polished than ever.