William Karlsson – The Dark Horse
This may be a surprising inclusion for some but let us map out the reasons why William Karlsson should be in the mix to at least be considered a potential candidate to wear the “C” on his jersey.
First and foremost, he’s absolutely adored by both his team-mates and the Vegas fans and he would make a hugely popular choice for Captain. Popularity contests shouldn’t dictate alone who becomes the official leader of this franchise, of course, but it helps when you are both respected and loved by your colleagues and those who support you from the stands.
Karlsson is also morphing into an elite two-way center in the NHL having received votes for the Selke Trophy in each of the last two seasons. He was also the winner of the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 2017-18, an award given to the NHL player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.
The 26-year-old is about to hit his prime but he’s already been playing at the peak of his powers for the Golden Knights, totalling 134 points in his first two seasons in Sin City along with a further 20 points in two postseason runs.
He’s also durable having become the only Vegas player to skate in all 82 regular season games for two consecutive years, and that is crucial because you don’t want your Captain consistently missing large chunks of games throughout the year.
Karlsson has become an unstoppable force and his play on the top line alongside Reilly Smith and Jonathan Marchessault has been a huge contributing factor to Vegas’ success early on in franchise history. The trio have combined for a staggering 330 points in the regular season during the last two years and they should now be considered one of the best and most potent lines in the NHL.
As already mentioned, Karlsson also plays a superb 200-foot game and his defensive stats were impressive last year – 55 blocked shots, 51 hits and 73 takeaways in addition to a winning percentage of 47.6 in the faceoff circle.
He is bound to only get better too and he is the long-term future of this franchise having signed a eight-year deal worth an average annual value of $5.9 million earlier in the offseason. That is another colossal factor too given that Vegas have one of their key assets under control through 2026-27.
Due to the fact that he is already a vital member of this Stanley Cup contender, is a well-respected and much-loved figure and is committed to Vegas for the long haul, Karlsson might be a surprising choice but he’s also a logical candidate to become the first Captain in franchise history for the Vegas Golden Knights.