NHL: Calgary Flames to adopt Henrik Karlsson
Is it a smart decision for a team that has been active since 5 decades and has only managed to win 1 Stanley Cup, moreover a franchise that has not entered the Conference Championship not more than 3 times?
Calgary Flames have decided to draft a 26 year old goal tender Henrik Karlsson who has no prior experience as a professional hockey player. The team has a poor history of drafting players and being one of the most ordinary teams in the NHL.
Bad news for the club started right after the General Manager, Darryl Sutter of the Flames traded their only reasonable player, Dion Phaneuf, who had set a record for the franchise in his rookie year. Sadly the GM accepted a charitable offer and got Alles Kotlik, who currently plays as the right wing for the team.
Last year Henrik was signed by the San Jose Sharks in a one year contract but the unfortunate player was always on the rooster and did not manage to play a single game. This year the Sharks traded the gloomy goal tender to the Flames in the 6th round.
Critically, it could be another one of the team’s foolish decision which they seem to make each year by drafting rookies or filling their roster up with players who barely have any prior experience. However this year they do not have a choice as the team only has $7 million to spend. The team plans on re-signing their previous defenseman Ian White, but will that be enough to strengthen their team? Not really, they need at least three more deadly forwards.
Apparently they have signed a contract with Henrik for about $500,000. He comes off as a much cheaper pick compared to other tenders who will be marketed on July 1st. Though, it is not much of a surprise as he has no experience with NHL whatsoever. However, it is definitely a steal if compared to his last contract with the Sharks which was $1.35M.
Just like last year’s season and the one before that (also the one before that) they needed to draft a good centre who could work well with their power winger Jarome Iginla, Instead they picked lousy players. Flames have a rooster filled with unmotivated players such as their apparent key centres Matt Stajan and Daymond Langkow.
Thus, for the desperate team to bank on a rookie is it a smart choice? It could possibly be, the best thing at the moment, no doubt they desperately need some new fresh faces that are determined to give everything they got to the team. Karlsson, on the other hand, definitely seems charged.
What are Karlsson’s remarks regarding the pick? Karlsson says he is extremely ecstatic and it is all coming quite fast, the deal, the contract. Karlsson is already being compared Jonas Gustavsson aka The Monster, due the fact both played for Farjestads of the Swedish Elite League and also their humongous size.
Both the Swedish players are currently working hard in a training camp in Canada. Karlsson says they hit the ice at least twice a day; the big player stands at 6’6 and weighs 215 pounds. When asked what kind of a style does he have as a player? Karslsson said "I play a pretty modern style; I try to play with my size and use my size as much as I can."
Looking back at the player’s statistics with the Swedish League, he has pretty decent averages. He has an overall .917 SV% from 2000 to 2009 with 2344 minutes played. As Swedish Jr. Player he had .895 SV% and has played 1530 minutes.
The opportunity for the striving player is good; he could be very well one of those undiscovered players who never had the opportunity to play as a pro. Who knows next year the rookie proves to be one of the most remarkable goal tenders of 2010.
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