William Karlsson might've had a quiet year with the Vegas Golden Knights this season. He scored nine goals and 20 assists, dealing with a wave of injuries along the way. But that's not stopping the Swedish center from representing his native country.
According to Express.En, Karlsson will represent his native Sweden in the IIHF World Championship. He arrives in Stockholm on Sunday and is expected to appear in the team's final Group A game on Tuesday against Canada.
What better way to appear in a hockey tournament than against your fellow Misfit? Marc-Andre Fleury is part of Team Canada and will provide a reunion of sorts with Karlsson. Ironically, Sweden is tied for first in Group A play with 12 points. The other team? Canada, who also has 12 points.
Of course, being eliminated from the second round stinks. That's especially true since it was against a bitter rival.
"Of course it's very bitter. I think we have a good team, so leaving this early feels really tough. (Translated from Swedish)"William Karlsson to Express.En
Still, that isn't stopping Karlsson from skating with his Swedish teammates. There's been no word on whether Jack Eichel will also participate in the event along with his Golden Knights teammate. But one thing's certain: The "Misfit" isn't stopping anytime soon.
William Karlsson could make a solid impact at the IIHF World Championship
While Karlsson wasn't around much during the regular season, he did have a great Stanley Cup playoff showcase. The center scored three goals and three assists in 11 games, buoyed by a top-line appearance with Eichel.
Sadly, that wasn't enough as the Golden Knights were eliminated in five games by their hated rivals, the Edmonton Oilers. That included two overtime losses and a Game 1 comeback with three unanswered goals.
Still, hockey is a healthy sort of addiction. It's one where you're chasing greatness and have an undying passion for the sport. That's where the "Misfit" is with his career, going the distance to play the sport he loves (although he still loves soccer, too).