The Vegas Golden Knights have had some franchise staples in their history. That includes William Karlsson and the team's rivalry with the San Jose Sharks. It has forged the identity of the Golden Knights, giving fans a foundation for their fandom. Of course, it wouldn't have been possible without Bill Foley creating a world-class organization, starting with building a strong front office.
But let's turn back to Karlsson for a second. The Swedish star is expected to return on Saturday, making T-Mobile Arena the place to be on the weekend. The Golden Knights will get a key place back, improving their special teams. His return also brings another two-way forward into the fold, turning them into a challenge on both ends. In short, the team gets better at the forward position in more ways than one.
That's what the Sharks will face on Saturday. The winless team must face a returning "Misfit" who scored 30 goals and 30 assists last season. That's challenging for any team to face in a regular season game. But what about the center's career work against San Jose? How has he done against a bitter rival during his career? Has he beaten them as badly as a chicken from a hammer?
How William Karlsson has done career-wise against the San Jose Sharks
William Karlsson has done well against the San Jose Sharks. He's scored 10 goals, 20 assists, and has a plus/minus of +20 in 36 games against his rival. Only one of those points didn't come with the Vegas Golden Knights; he scored an assist with the Columbus Blue Jackets on November 22, 2015.
His first tilt (November 24, 2017) against the Sharks in his Vegas tenure saw him score two goals. The forward was key to the Golden Knights winning, 5-4, where both goals came in the second period. They made the Stanley Cup Final that season, losing to the Washington Capitals in five games.
Still, 10 goals and 20 assists in 36 games is an impressive stat line for any player. It shows their capabilities in tight situations, making them a reliable asset. That's the case with Karlsson, who's bringing numerous benefits to the Golden Knights lineup.
That's bad news for a winless Sharks team looking to get on the board. They sit at 0-6-2 and are at the bottom of the Pacific Division, where they're heading into another rebuilding year. Seeing a "Golden Misfit" come back isn't a good sign for them, either.