Vegas Golden Knights fans saw something peculiar with William Karlsson in Saturday's game against the Anaheim Ducks. They noticed the Original Misfit wasn't around after the first period. But that wasn't without any fanfare since the Swedish center had an assist on Brett Howden's first-period goal.
Still, there was a good reason why Karlsson left. The center suffered a lower-body injury that knocked him out of commission.
Cassidy says William Karlsson has a lower-body injury. Team is not going to be on the ice tomorrow so he'll give a further update on Monday.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) November 9, 2025
Ladies and gentlemen, it seems like that time of year again. The Golden Knights' injuries pile up, and key players are sidelined for extended periods. One doesn't have to go far to see stars like Mark Stone and Adin Hill on the sidelines, leaving the Golden Knights short-handed.
As for Karlsson, he's been one of the few bright spots on the Golden Knights' lower lines. He scored four goals and three assists before leaving Saturday's game, making him a valuable lower-line asset. Sure, some people might brush the 32-year-old as a liability with his age.
Obviously, you lose key scoring in the middle of the lineup. That's especially true when it's the best offensive weapon on the lower lines. However, losing Karlsson goes beyond offensive production.
Why William Karlsson's potential absence hurts the Vegas Golden Knights more than people realize
As I was heading home from T-Mobile Arena on Saturday, I asked myself a question. It involved Karlsson's impact on the game against the Anaheim Ducks.
"Would the Golden Knights have won if William Karlsson stuck around and didn't get hurt?"
My answer was yes and it came with a couple of reasons. He has reasonable stats against the Ducks, scoring 16 goals and 13 assists in 39 career games. But it goes beyond offensive production.
Karlsson's great as a two-way player, neutralizing offensive threats. He did this to Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in the Stanley Cup playoffs last season by taking the middle of the ice away. While the Edmonton Oilers' overall depth overwhelmed Vegas, Karlsson also kept the Golden Knights hanging around at times.
That's not even mentioning how excellent Karlsson is on special teams. The Swedish center is proficient both on the power play (30 career goals and 52 career assists on the unit) and on the penalty kill. While the power play loses a key player on the second unit, the penalty kill (18th in the NHL with a penalty kill percentage of 78.4%) gets hit even harder.
The Golden Knights must adjust if Karlsson's out long-term
It seems like the Golden Knights can't catch a break with injuries this season. While names like Noah Hanifin and Brett Howden haven't been as severe, it hurts when you don't have Mark Stone and Adin Hill around longer.
It sucks more that Karlsson's yet another setback. Fans don't realize the vital role he plays in keeping the overall apparatus alive for the Golden Knights, whether it's on the forecheck or on special teams. It's something that will require drastic adjustments.
Will that come with a sudden call-up of a Henderson Silver Knight (think Braeden Bowman)? Who knows. But one thing's certain. Golden Knights fans are in for a world of hurt with the latest news... literally.