Should fans be alarmed about William Karlsson entering the season?

The Vegas Golden Knights have gotten most of their superstars ready for the upcoming 2024-25 season. Names like Mark Stone, Jack Eichel, and Noah Hanifin got their skating in during the preseason, prepping them for the new hockey year. However, one particular face hasn't been around since the preseason started: William Karlsson.

The center hasn't played in a preseason game due to an undisclosed injury. He did practice at the start of training camp, yet he hasn't appeared in one contest to start the year. Fans didn't see him against the Los Angeles Kings, nor was he present against the Utah Hockey Club. It's raised some concerns about the "Original Misfit's" health heading into the latest campaign.

It's also a surprising newsbit considering Karlsson has remained healthy in the past couple of seasons. He's missed only 12 games in the last two years, making him one of the most consistent Golden Knights players. In that span, he's scored 44 goals and 69 assists. That's certainly a nice statistic for Karlsson, who's become valuable as a two-way forward.

Should fans be concerned about Karlsson's preseason absence? Will the Golden Knights survive without him if he's out for too long? His injury could be another part of a long season for fans wanting another Stanley Cup. It might also be a false alarm that could scare them to death. Here's what could happen if Karlsson is out for some time.

What the Vegas Golden Knights can do if William Karlsson is out

If San Francisco 49ers fans know one thing, there's no such thing as a sure thing. Christian McCaffrey was raring to go for his Monday night opener against the New York Jets before Achilles tendinitis knocked him out. Now, 49er fans don't know when he'll be back, leaving concerns about the running back's return.

Could this happen to William Karlsson, too? What should the Vegas Golden Knights do if he's out for a while? That's a simple fix, dear reader. Tomas Hertl could be bumped up to the second line alongside Mark Stone, while Nicolas Roy would take the center position on the third line. Roy has appeared more comfortable being slotted in this position, making him a natural fit. If Hertl isn't the second center come opening night, he will be if Karlsson's out.

Howden would be the center for the fourth line, joining Keegan Kolesar. But there's an interesting development Bruce Cassidy has on his hands. Tanner Pearson and Tanner Laczynski are playing lights out during the preseason, making the final roster spot a tough competition. So why not give them both a starting position should Karlsson miss time? It sounds crazy until you realize both Tanners have proven their worth in the preseason.

Perhaps the Karlsson situation is being overblown

There's no timeline for a William Karlsson return, leaving fans frustrated with the current ordeal. Is this the start of another injury wave set to devastate the Vegas Golden Knights? Who will be next? Will it be Mark Stone? Jack Eichel? Adin Hill? Whatever the case, Vegas hockey fans are concerned about being decimated by another batch of injuries...

...Or it might be overblown. The Golden Knights have some time to sort out matters and see where Karlsson stands. They also have a lineup filled with utility, where they can shift players like Stone and Roy, giving them an advantage. If Karlsson returns for the October 9th opener against the Colorado Avalanche, then it'll be business as usual.

For now, fans should be anticipating the next hockey campaign coming around the corner. Soon, it'll be time to head to T-Mobile Arena and watch another exciting regular season of Golden Knights hockey. Eventually, William Karlsson will come, whether it's the next preseason game in Las Vegas or opening night.