Karlsson sustained an injury during the preseason, and for some reason, it has not healed in time for him to participate in the Golden Knights' initial contest on Oct. 9th against the Colorado Avalanche.
Usually, Karlsson would be lining up with Captain Mark Stone and right winger Pavel Dorofeyev. The lines will shuffle due to Karlsson being sidelined. According to dailyfaceoff.com Stone will have Jack Eichel and Ivan Barbashev as his linemates on the first line.
Dorofeyev will move to the second line with Tomas Hertl and Alexander Holtz.
Without Karlsson's offense, others will need to step up
Karlsson had a very productive season last year, tallying 30 goals and 30 assists in 70 games. He was also instrumental on the power play, scoring seven man-advantage goals and eight assists. While it is hoped that he won't be out of the lineup for long, it's difficult to tell the extent of the injury since the club has not disclosed any details.
Others like Stone (16-G, 37-A) and Eichel (31-G, 37-A) must pick up the slack in Karlsson's absence. Remember last year's leading scorer, Jonathan Marchessault (42-G, 27-A), is no longer with the Golden Knights. He signed a five-year $27.5 million deal with the Nashville Predators on July 1, 2024. Blame it on limited cap space for the Vegas team, which seems to be a pressing problem every year.
If the Karlsson injury is short-term, the VGK will be fine
Injuries heal at their own pace, and every player returns on their own timetable. He has stayed relatively healthy, missing just 12 games in the past two seasons. For the Golden Knights' sake, it is hoped that Karlsson will return to the regular lineup soon.
On the other hand, if this becomes a long-term injury, the management team will need to assess the following steps. A player of this caliber will need to be replaced in order for the Vegas club to be a postseason threat.
Karlsson's $5.9 million contract being placed on long-term injury reserve (LTIR) would give them open cap space needed to find a temporary replacement.
Every NHL team must contend with injuries and sometimes even crucial players. Look how the Vegas club had to deal without Stone being available. He has only been able to play in 136 games over the last three seasons due to injuries.
It is an assurance that the Vegas Golden Knights fans will watch closely to see whe or if he will return to the ice.