- Editor's Note: Sheng Peng will be a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.
“I still think I’m one of the best players in the world.”
Erik Karlsson told us that last October, and forgive us if we didn’t believe him.
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At that point, the Sharks star was coming off back-to-back disappointing campaigns.
In the 2020-21 NHL season, he recorded just 22 points in 52 contests. That 0.42 points per game was his lowest since his rookie season 0.43.
In 2019-20, he posted a more robust 40 points in 56 games before thumb surgery ended his year and COVID would pause the NHL’s season. But talking to scouts during that campaign, they all agreed that there was something off about his game, a little less pep in his step, perhaps because of offseason groin surgery.
But Karlsson, true to his claim, kicked off 2021-22 with authority, totaling 26 points in his first 33 games, and playing with a consistent offensive and defensive zest that we hadn’t seen since midway through his first season in San Jose.
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