Mark Madden: Like Paul Coffey before him, Erik Karlsson is perfect fit for Penguins' high-octane style

Erik Karlsson isn’t 100% unique. Not quite a unicorn.

Pittsburgh hockey fans have seen one like him before. It’s just been a while. (Hint: He wore No. 77.)

Since joining the Penguins via trade with San Jose, Karlsson has been conversationally lumped in with Kris Letang. Both are called offensive defensemen.

But Letang actually plays defense. He takes chances offensively but is hard and physical in his own end. When Letang is caught up ice, he hustles to get back.

Karlsson lines up on defense but is more like a fourth forward. If hockey were soccer, he’d be an attacking midfielder. Karlsson’s first instinct, perhaps his only instinct, is to join the rush. Go forward, not backward. Don’t hesitate. Don’t be stationary.

This isn’t a knock, not in any remote sense. It works for Karlsson, and in a big way. It got him 101 points and the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenseman last year. That’s Karlsson’s third Norris. He’s been a first-team All-Star five times.

Karlsson was also minus-26 last year. He was a minus player four of his five seasons with San Jose. But those were mostly bad teams.

Think Paul Coffey, the Hall of Famer who played defense for the Penguins from 1987-92.

Related

• At 1st day of camp, Penguins' Lars Eller takes stock of new teammates, surroundings
• Even with change, the Penguins' goal remains the same: 'We're here to win (the) Stanley Cup'
• Penguins forward Jake Guentzel remains on schedule in recovery

Coffey didn’t play much actual defense. Didn’t need to. Had the puck a ton. Superb skater who constantly ignited the attack. Never tried to deny his instincts.

Nor does Karlsson. The second the Penguins get possession, he’s going to go north.

Karlsson’s skill set is paralyzing. He puckhandles like very few defensemen ever. His slide-rule passes can be mind-boggling. His power-play acumen is dazzling and cumulative. He plays a lot of minutes. (Karlsson and Letang will basically split the right side of defense some games.)

The power play is where Karlsson needs to help most. That unit needs to go from underachieving to dominant. Karlsson should dictate everything, including method. (That’s another column. Watch this space.)

Sometimes you’re going to get upset when Karlsson cheating on the offensive side of the puck craps out. His presumed defensive partner, fellow Swede Marcus Pettersson, certainly has his work cut out for him.

But mostly you’ll be thrilled.

Enjoy Karlsson. He’s one of hockey’s most exciting players. He’s a real Penguin, a perfect fit for the team’s long-held high-octane philosophy.

The Penguins won’t abandon that even when it would be smart. So Karlsson helps make the most of it. (He’s also a positive locker-room presence and a former team captain.)

New hockey boss Kyle Dubas has done much to shake up the Penguins. But Karlsson’s arrival, on its own, has excised the team’s staleness.

Karlsson hasn’t made the Penguins younger, though. He’s 33. What’s one more old guy?

Not everyone believes. The Hockey News polled 34 staffers, and Karlsson was voted the player “most likely to have a setback.”

What does that mean? Eighty points instead of 101? Is it The Hockey News or a high school yearbook?

Karlsson could challenge Sidney Crosby for the Penguins’ scoring lead. A defenseman. That’s odd to even consider.

The Penguins’ problem at the blue line might be lack of penalty killers.

My solution is what Coffey and Mario Lemieux used to do: Attack short-handed. Lemieux netted 13 short-handed goals in 1988-89, an NHL record that still stands. Take that offense-first mindset all the way.

That would surely get Karlsson’s vote.