Blades of Teal
Fansided

3 Ways the San Jose Sharks Can Replace the Loss of Joe Pavelski

By Lucas Burrell

ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - MAY 15: Joe Pavelski #8 of the San Jose Sharks looks on against the St. Louis Blues during the third period in Game Three of the Western Conference Finals during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Enterprise Center on May 15, 2019 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - MAY 15: Joe Pavelski #8 of the San Jose Sharks looks on against the St. Louis Blues during the third period in Game Three of the Western Conference Finals during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Enterprise Center on May 15, 2019 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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SAN JOSE, CA – APRIL 12: Erik Karlsson #65 of the San Jose Sharks skates ahead with the puck against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on April 12, 2019 in San Jose, California (Photo by Brandon Magnus/NHLI via Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CA – APRIL 12: Erik Karlsson #65 of the San Jose Sharks skates ahead with the puck against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on April 12, 2019 in San Jose, California (Photo by Brandon Magnus/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Full Strength EK65

Erik Karlsson underwent successful surgery after this off-season to repair his injured groin that hindered him throughout a major portion of his time in the Bay Area. Erik Karlsson suited up 53 regular season games last season, compiling a total of 45 points. EK65 carried this steadfast level of hockey into the playoffs where he led all blueliners in assists with 14.

Compounding with his injury it took a bit of time to get Karlsson adjusted with his new surroundings. Heading into EK65’s homecoming to Ottawa on December 1st the Sharks were a lousy 13 – 10 – 5 and struggling to put together games of consistently good hockey.

But after losing in embarrassing fashion to the Senators things started to trend in a positive direction for Team Teal and that point forward EK65 and the San Jose Sharks took their game to another stratosphere.

From 12/02/2018 – 1/17/19 (the day following EK65’s injury) the San Jose overclocked the underlying metrics putting up numbers that made many of the anayltical minded hockey fans drool.

Much of this had to do with the play of Karlsson. During this torrent stretch of play last season the 29-year-old was able to string together a monstrous 14 game point streak accumulating a total of 25 points. It took a bit of time but this sequence of games solidified the fact the front office was right to bet on acquiring game breaking talent despite the cost.

Often individual point per game statistics understate Erik Karlsson’s overall impact on the San Jose Sharks roster. It took a bit of time to formulate chemistry between the Swedish defender and his new teammates but when it happened things were clicking at full tilt.

Over the course of this month and a a half the San Jose Sharks outpaced the entire league in GF and xGF at 5v5 ,while also ranking 2nd at all strengths in those same categories only behind the dynamic Carolina Hurricanes, per naturalstattrick.

Metrics like expected goals help illustrate that a healthy EK65 has the type of impact that can elevate teammates to despite their overall skill level. It’s not a coincidence that several Sharks put together career years in regards to goals and overall point totals last season

That means having a fully engaged healthy Karlsson for even 70 – 75 games will have the Sharks reaching their regular season ceiling and perhaps take first place in the Pacific Division.

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