Sometimes, you see some things that make you scratch your head. Perhaps it's the car trapped in the tree with no way of getting out. Maybe it's rising parking fees at a casino on the Las Vegas strip (God, I hate those).
Whatever the case, some things can't be properly explained in life. That includes William Karlsson trade rumors, which Justin Bieber fans have escalated for some reason. It seems Maple Leafs (and hockey!) fans are keen on getting the Swedish center in their top-six since Mitch Marner is likely gone.
...Except the Vegas Golden Knights aren't budging. Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts Podcast stated that William Karlsson isn't available.
Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts Pod says that William Karlsson is not available in trade and Vegas really likes him. Unsurprising given how Cassidy speaks about the player. #VegasBorn https://t.co/fdJZDCPYbS
— Jack Manning (@NHLJackManning) June 10, 2025
There are plenty of reasons why teams would want to take the Misfit off Kelly McCrimmon's hands. For one, he carries a cap hit of $5.9 million until 2027. He also scored 30 goals and 30 assists in 2023-24.
But there are plenty of reasons why Vegas should also hold onto him. You're not just looking at a guy who matches up well with megastars like Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews. He serves a myriad of purposes that benefit the Golden Knights overall.
Why trading William Karlsson makes absolutely no sense
2024-25 was a bit of an outlier for Karlsson. He scored nine goals and 20 assists in 53 games and was hampered by injuries. So let's look at the season beforehand, shall we?
As mentioned, 30 goals and 30 assists as a player older than 30 is solid. With seven goals and eight assists coming on the power play, he's an asset on special teams. Add in a shorthanded goal and a shorthanded assist and his special teams value goes up.
But that's not all. Being one season removed from a solid campaign also means the advanced stats look good. How, you ask (Stats courtesy of MoneyPuck)?
Player | Goals | Assists | Goals Above Expected | Takeaways | Shooting Percentage | Shooting Percentage On Unblocked Shots | High Danger xGoals | Corsi | Fenwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
William Karlsson | 30 | 30 | 7.7 | 42 | 17.1% | 12.6% | 10.38 | 52% | 54% |
Sure, he might've been more of a facilitator in recent years. However, that doesn't diminish his production. That's especially true during this past postseason, where he scored three goals and three assists.
You can't trade away a key player and lose depth
That goes back to the other point: depth. The Golden Knights lost to the Edmonton Oilers because they lacked the scoring depth necessary to compete. Edmonton loves outscoring you as much as their fans love dancing around in conga lines. Scoring two goals maximum isn't cutting it.
If you try trading away Karlsson, you're sending off a guy with seasoned experience. You're also sending away someone who comes through when needed. Just look at the Stanley Cup season as a perfect example, where he scored 11 goals and six assists.
On top of that, intangibles come into play. That's right, dear reader. The thing you never thought would matter does.
Bruce Cassidy is a big fan of Karlsson's, admiring his grit and tenacity on every play. He battles for every puck and acts as a reliable two-way forward in a fast-moving system. When you've earned high marks from your head coach, you know you're doing something right.
All of this should be no-brainers for a team looking for more forward depth to work with. It goes back to the old adage of "cutting off your nose to spite your face." Therefore, no bueno on the trade rumors!
Oh, and my deepest apologies to everyone in Toronto. You'll win the Stanley Cup one day, just without William Karlsson.