Sharks' Erik Karlsson: "I'm One of the Best Players in the World"

San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson has never lacked confidence and he's certainly not starting to now. The veteran defenseman is hoping for a bounce-back season in California and recently said some things that have turned some heads.

Karlsson spoke to the media about where his game is at, and let's just say this may surprise you:

I obviously still think that I'm one of the best players in the world. That's where I've been for a very long time, that's where I want to go, that's where I want to stay. For me, that's always going to be my expectation, and I hope that's going to be the case for the rest of my career, not only this year.

The 31-year-old is being paid like one of the league's best players as the Swedish defender makes $11.5 million per season and is signed through for six more years. This season in one game he's registered one point and is coming off a year in 2020-21 where Karlsson put up 22 points in 52 games.

Sorry Karlsson, but that's not league's best type of numbers. He does have an argument however, as since 2009 when Karlsson entered the NHL, his 626 points leads all NHL defenders. Still....what have you done for me lately?