2. Defenseman Erik Karlsson ranked seventh among NHL defensemen in speed bursts over 20 mph last season (116), while Crosby was among the league’s leaders in that category (181; 93rd percentile).
Despite a huge drop in points (56) last season after being traded to Pittsburgh compared to his Norris Trophy-winning season with the San Jose Sharks in 2022-23 (101), Karlsson was a standout in EDGE statistics with his new team, ranking among the league’s best in terms of highest shot velocity (101.54 mph; 98th percentile), total skating distance (278.94 miles; 97th percentile) and highest skating speed (23.20 mph; 90th percentile).
Karlsson finished with more points than teammate Kris Letang (51), with both defensemen playing all 82 games. But Karlsson has a higher potential in long-range goals (five; ranks outside the top 10 among defensemen), considering he finished fourth in long-range goals (116), behind the Oilers’ Evan Bouchard (136), the Buffalo Sabres’ Rasmus Dahlin (132) and the Calgary Flames’ MacKenzie Weegar (124). He led the NHL in long-range goals (10) in 2022-23. Letang ranked ninth among all players last season with six long-range goals and had 90 long-range goals.
