With the addition of Erik Karlsson, the San Jose Sharks arguably stack up as the best blue line in the National Hockey League. Sharks fans will see some pairings we haven’t been used to in the past, but while sometimes change can be hard, it’s often beneficial to our growth as people.

The San Jose Sharks searched endlessly over the summer to secure a powerful piece to raise their chances at claiming the Stanley Cup. The Sharks missed out on Ilya Kovalchuk and John Tavares to the Los Angeles Kings and Toronto Maple Leafs respectively.

However, the Sharks would not strike out.

With diminishing hopes of adding a high-caliber superstar before the preseason, the Sharks snatched arguably the biggest fish in the NHL sea. As they say, the third time’s the charm, and San Jose general manager Doug Wilson made the blockbuster acquisition of the summer by reeling in Erik Karlsson to Team Teal.

Karlsson, acquired last week for Chris Tierney, Dillon DeMelo, and a package of picks and prospects joins one of the top-tiered defensive teams in the league. As the former captain of the Ottawa Senators, the 28-year-old defenseman significantly strengthens San Jose’s intimidating blue line. Alongside 2017 Norris Trophy winner Brent Burns and shutdown defensemen Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Justin Braun, Karlsson will play a crucial role on the Sharks core-four blue line.

With the addition of Erik Karlsson, the San Jose Sharks now have arguably the best blue line in the NHL, and have to be grouped in with the favorites to come out of the Western Conference in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.