Vegas Hockey Knight
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Karlsson resurgence the key to rebound season

By Christopher Lyke

Apr 24, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights center William Karlsson (71) during warmups against the San Jose Sharks at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 24, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights center William Karlsson (71) during warmups against the San Jose Sharks at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports /
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William Karlsson is looking at the 2022-23 season with a chance to have a bounce back season after missing some games last season with a foot injury. Prior to the pandemic-shortened seasons, his -previous four seasons, split between Vegas and Columbus, he was on the ice for nearly every single game. Over the course of his time as a Golden Knight, the Swede has put up some very respectable numbers with his best season coming in the first year of the franchise back in 2017-18.

This is a part of a series of profile features on the complete Golden Knights roster heading into the 2022-23 season.

The William Karlsson File
6’1 | 180 | Shoots: Left | Center
Hometown: Marsrta, Sweden |DOB: 01/08/93
Draft Status: 53rd overall | 2nd Round (2011) – Anaheim Ducks
How Acquired: Expansion Draft | Under Contract Through: 2026-27
’22-’23: $5.9M | ’23-’24:: $5.9M | ’24-’25: $5.9M | ’25-’26: $5.9M | ’26-’27: $5.9M

Looking at Karlsson for the upcoming season

The thing to look for with Karlsson is continuing to show that he can work the various lines. He does have the potential to work the first line, but has seen some solid production on the second line too. Don’t expect too much to change when it comes to the veteran left-hander. Cassidy will still experiment with the line up early on in the season, but it is all about the chemistry that he maintains with the vast majority of the roster.

Karlsson over the course of his career has received votes for the Lady Byng Award every season, which is awarded for sportsmanship with a high standard of play on the ice. He actually won the award after his first season with the Golden Knights in 2018. Again, there is no reason to expect anything less out of Karlsson than what we already know.

The more realistic expectation for Karlsson would be a target point of around 50 points overall this season. The last time we saw him at the 50 point mark was in the 2018-19 season. He came close the following season but with a shortened season due to the pandemic, that was a missed opportunity. Granted, it could have also been achievable last season. The problem with last season was of course the injury bug affecting virtually the entire team’s performance. As long as Karlsson stays healthy, there is no reason he should not obtain that illustrious 50 point target. If we see those numbers, there is also a very good possibility that the Golden Knights will be right in the middle of a Stanley Cup conversation.

Player Statistics

2014-15 | ANA | 18 GP (3 G, 2 A) 5 pts, 0 PIM
2014-15 | CBJ | 3 GP (1 G, 1 A) 2 pts, 0 PIM
2015-16 | CBJ | 81 GP (9 G, 11 A) 20 pts, 6 PIM
2016-17 | CBJ | 81 GP (6 G, 19 A) 25 pts, 10 PIM
2017-18 | VGK | 82 GP (43 G, 35 A) 78 pts, 12 PIM
2018-19 | VGK | 82 GP (24 G, 32 A) 56 pts, 16 PIM
2019-20 | VGK | 63 GP (15 G, 31 A) 46 pts, 16 PIM
2020-21 | VGK | 56 GP (14 G, 25 A) 39 pts, 4 PIM
2021-22 | VGK | 67 GP (12 G, 23 A) 35 pts, 10 PIM

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