As if the lather had run out on the widespread waxing of Erik Karlsson's ego. I wouldn't say someone who already had two Norris Trophies sitting on his mantle burst on to the scene with last year's superhuman postseason performance. However, I'll be damned if all the antiquated radars that somehow still stubbornly exist in hockey circles didn't finally pick up on the most dynamic player at his position as he threw the Ottawa Senators on his back and cruised through the playoffs on 1.5 legs. Here I was thinking that garnering the interest of every NHL enthusiast as a Conn Smythe favorite and the most intriguing storyline for the most boring team remaining for a month and a half long playoff run was the highest of compliment, but that's simply not even close to true. At the risk making it seem like the opinions of crusty old white dudes who may or may not have ever laced up a pair of skates that didn't belong to their children aren't the most valued, respect is undoubtedly most meaningful when it comes from your peers. So, with that in mind, there's not a conversation that could do a better job pumping the tires of the Senators' defenseman than the one in which three two-time Stanley Cup Champions tried to pawn off the responsibility of covering him for the next 30-45 seconds. Drew Doughty is probably the closest thing that every other NHL team combined has to Erik Karlsson and even he - albeit semi-facetiously - was like "you guys sure you don't want to take him?". Imagine how good it would feel to quit your job only to sit in on the meeting where your overwhelmed co-workers pull their thinning hair out trying to figure out how to best offset your departure. I'm pretty sure that's the closest thing to the common man equivalent of listening to professional athletes become unnerved at the prospect of holding their own against another professional athlete whose playing the role of a fly on the ice while casually awaiting their decision.
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