Karlsson Can Be Sixth NHL Defenseman to Post 100 Points in Season

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San Jose Sharks standout Erik Karlsson is having the most productive season ever by an NHL defenseman playing for a non-playoff team.

Karlsson goes into tonight’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights needing nine points in eight games to become the sixth different defenseman, and first European, to record 100 or more points in a season.

If he pulls it off, Karlsson would be the first defenseman in 31 years to reach the 100-point mark.

He would join Bobby Orr (six times), Paul Coffey (five times), Al MacInnis (once), Brian Leetch (once) and Denis Potvin (once) on the list of 100-point defensemen. Leetch was the last to reach 100, registering 102 in 1991-92.

The Swedish star is trying to accomplish this playing for a team that currently sits 30th out of the league’s 32 teams. Karlsson is 30 points ahead of his closest teammate on San Jose’s scoring list.

The Sharks have only scored 212 goals this season and Karlsson (22 goals, 69 assists) has either scored or assisted on 42.9% of his team’s goals. Vancouver’s Quinn Hughes is second in NHL defensemen scoring with 72 points and has only been involved in 28.2% of Vancouver’s scoring plays.

What’s remarkable about Karlsson’s season is that 75.8% of his points have come at even-strength.

Karlsson’s 69 assists have already established a new Sharks record for most assists by a defenseman. He broke Brent Burns’ record.

Karlsson is considered the favorite to win the Norris Trophy this season as NHL’s best defenseman.

Aside from Erik Karlsson this season, who is the most recent NHL defenseman to score 90+ points in a season?

🐆 Brandon Montour scores OT winner, Panthers rally to beat Maple Leafs 3-2. The 28-year-old defenseman one-timed Aleksander Barkov's feed to the back of the net just 1:41 into overtime to complete the come-from-behind victory to keep the Panthers' playoff hopes alive. Panthers forward Anton Lundell scored his 10th of the season just a minute into regulation but Florida found themselves down 2-1 in the third before Sam Reinhart deflected Aaron Ekblad's point shot in with a minute left in regulation to force OT. The Panthers snapped their 4-game losing streak and the win puts them 1 point back from the Penguins for the final Eastern Conference wild card spot.

🟢⚪️ Frederick Gaudreau scores two shorthanded goals, Wild pad Central lead with 4-2 win over the Avalanche. The Bromont, Quebec-native set a new career-high scoring his 15th goal of the season with a beautiful shorthanded breakaway bury in the 2nd period, the eventual game winner, and added his 16th for good measure on the empty net in the 3rd. Wild netminder Filip Gustavsson played incredible, making 42 saves as the Avalanche outshot the Wild 44-29. Marcus Johansson and Sam Steel each chipped in a goal as the Minnesota Wild extended their Central Division lead over the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche to three points with just seven games remaining on their regular season schedule. 

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Swiss man rocket 🚀 Roman Josi collected 96 points (23 goals, 73 assists) last season. Here is the list of most points in a single season by NHL defenseman all-time.