William Karlsson

William Karlsson
Karlsson with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2018
Born	(1993-01-08) 8 January 1993 (age 31) Märsta, Sweden
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position	Centre
Shoots	Left
NHL team Former teams	Vegas Golden Knights HV71 Anaheim Ducks Columbus Blue Jackets
National team	Sweden
NHL Draft	53rd overall, 2011 Anaheim Ducks
Playing career	2011–present

Lars William Karlsson (born 8 January 1993), nicknamed "Wild Bill", ^[1] is a Swedish professional ice hockey forward and alternate captain for the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted in the second round, 53rd overall, by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. In addition to playing for Vegas, Karlsson has also played in the NHL for Anaheim and the Columbus Blue Jackets.

After being selected by the Golden Knights in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft, Karlsson has been one of the key points of the team offense, and helped Vegas reach the Stanley Cup Finals in their inaugural season. During his first season in Vegas, Karlsson scored a career-high 43 goals and became the franchise all-time leader in goals.

Playing career

Sweden

In the 2011–12 season, Karlsson finished in 12th place in Allsvenskan scoring after recording 45 points in 46 games, the second-most on his team. ^[2] He made his senior Elitserien debut with HV71.

Anaheim Ducks and Columbus Blue Jackets

On 20 May 2013, Karlsson signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the NHL's Anaheim Ducks, the team that drafted him in the second round, 53rd overall, in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. He was returned on loan to HV71 for the 2013–14 season. ^[3]

Karlsson made his NHL debut on 11 October 2014 and scored his first and second NHL goals on 13 October against Michal Neuvirth of the Buffalo Sabres. ^[4] He was reassigned to Anaheim's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals, on 24 November. ^[5] Karlsson was reassigned between Norfolk and Anaheim for the remainder of the season, but finished the year in the AHL.

On 2 March 2015, Karlsson was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets (along with Rene Bourque and a second-round draft pick in 2015) in exchange for James Wisniewski and a third-round pick in 2015. ^[6]

Vegas Golden Knights

On 21 June 2017, having been left "exposed" by Columbus for the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft, Karlsson was selected by the first year expansion team Vegas Golden Knights. The Blue Jackets traded a first-round pick in 2017, a second-round pick in 2019 and injured forward David Clarkson to Vegas with the agreement that the Golden Knights would select Karlsson. ^[7]

Karlsson spent the 2017–18 season (Vegas' first in the NHL) centering a line with Reilly Smith and Jonathan Marchessault. ^[8] This proved to be a productive line, with all three putting up career-high offensive numbers. ^[9] Karlsson scored his first career NHL hat-trick on 31 December 2017 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, it also being the first hat-trick in Golden Knights history. ^[10] He scored his second career NHL hat-trick on 18 March 2018 against the Calgary Flames. ^[11] In addition to providing 35 assists and an NHL-high plus-minus rating of +45, Karlsson ended the regular season with 43 goals, setting a new NHL record for goals scored by a player in an expansion team's inaugural season. ^[12] His 43 goals placed him third in NHL scoring, behind Patrik Laine (44) and Alexander Ovechkin (49). ^[13] Karlsson was also named a finalist for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for his high standard of play and sportsmanship. ^[14] On 20 June, he was named the recipient of the trophy, becoming the first player since Wayne Gretzky to win an end-of-season award in their team's inaugural season in the NHL. ^[15] Karlsson was also awarded the Guldpucken as the top Swedish ice hockey player in the 2017–18 season. ^[16]

After his career-high season, on 4 August 2018, Karlsson signed a new one-year, $5.25 million contract with Vegas for the 2018–19 season. ^[17] Karlsson described his decision to sign a one-year contract as "betting on [him]self a little" and that he would use the subsequent season to prove that his 2018–19 production "was no fluke". ^[18]

On 24 June 2019, having produced 24 goals and 32 assists (56 points) in the 2018–19 season, Karlsson signed a new eight-year, $47.2 million contract with Vegas worth an average annual value of $5.9 million. The contract is effective from the 2019–20 season through to the end of the 2026–27 season. ^[19]

By the 2022–23 season, Karlsson was one of six remaining original members of the Golden Knights, alongside Marchessault, Smith, Brayden McNabb, Shea Theodore and William Carrier. The team reached the Stanley Cup Finals for the second time, winning the Cup over the Florida Panthers in five games. Karlsson and four of the other original Golden Knights started the decisive Game 5. ^[20]

Personal life

Karlsson is a supporter of Sweden's AIK sports club. ^{[21] [22] [23]} As a child, his biggest dream was to play for AIK Football. ^[24]

Karlsson and his wife have a son. ^[25]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2007–08	Wings HC Arlanda	J18		5	2	7	9	4		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Wings HC Arlanda	J18		33	10	18	28	16		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	VIK Västerås HK	J18		22	10	13	23	33		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	VIK Västerås HK	J18 Allsv		17	13	8	21	29		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	VIK Västerås HK	J20		6	0	1	1	2		2	0	1	1	0
2010–11	VIK Västerås HK	J18		5	2	4	6	6		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	VIK Västerås HK	J18 Allsv		6	3	5	8	4		6	7	8	15	2
2010–11	VIK Västerås HK	J20		38	20	34	54	45		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	VIK Västerås HK	Allsv		14	1	3	4	2		—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	VIK Västerås HK	Allsv		46	12	33	45	6		6	1	1	2	0
2011–12	VIK Västerås HK	J20		—	—	—	—	—		5	2	2	4	2
2012–13	HV71	SEL		50	4	24	28	12		5	0	2	2	0
2012–13	HV71	J20		—	—	—	—	—		2	2	2	4	2
2013–14	HV71	SHL		55	15	22	37	14		8	3	4	7	8
2013–14	Norfolk Admirals	AHL		9	2	7	9	6		8	1	2	3	2
2014–15	Anaheim Ducks	NHL		18	2	1	3	2		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	Norfolk Admirals	AHL		35	7	14	21	2		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	Springfield Falcons	AHL		15	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	Columbus Blue Jackets	NHL		3	1	1	2	0		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	Columbus Blue Jackets	NHL		81	9	11	20	6		—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	Columbus Blue Jackets	NHL		81	6	19	25	10		5	2	1	3	0
2017–18	Vegas Golden Knights	NHL		82	43	35	78	12		20	7	8	15	2
2018–19	Vegas Golden Knights	NHL		82	24	32	56	16		7	2	3	5	2
2019–20	Vegas Golden Knights	NHL		63	15	31	46	16		20	4	6	10	0
2020–21	Vegas Golden Knights	NHL		56	14	25	39	4		19	4	12	16	2
2021–22	Vegas Golden Knights	NHL		67	12	23	35	10		—	—	—	—	—
2022–23	Vegas Golden Knights	NHL		82	14	39	53	10		22	11	6	17	2
SHL totals				105	19	46	65	26		13	3	6	9	8
NHL totals				615	140	217	357	86		93	30	36	66	8

Medal record
Representing   Sweden
Ice hockey
World Championships
	2017 Germany/France
World Junior Championships
	2012 Calgary
	2013 Ufa

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2011	Sweden	U18			6	2	3	5	6
2012	Sweden	WJC			6	1	1	2	0
2013	Sweden	WJC			6	0	2	2	2
2017	Sweden	WC			10	1	2	3	0
Junior totals					18	3	6	9	8
Senior totals					10	1	2	3	0

Awards and honours

Award	Year
SHL
SHL Rookie of the Year	2013
Guldpucken	2018
NHL
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy	2018
Viking Award	2018
Stanley Cup champion	2023	[26]
International
U18 World Junior silver medal	2011
World Junior gold medal	2012
World Junior silver medal	2013
World Championship gold medal	2017

Records

• Holds the NHL record for most goals scored (43) by a single player in an expansion team's inaugural season (previously Brian Bradley with Tampa Bay (42) from 1993–2018). ^[12]

References

1. Rob Mixer; Columbus Blue Jackets. "Top prospect Karlsson ready for new chapter with Blue Jackets". NHL. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
2. "Vasteras season stats 2010-11". eliteprospects.com. 1 April 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
3. "Ducks sign Karlsson to entry-level contract". Anaheim Ducks. 20 May 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
4. "Anaheim Ducks at Buffalo Sabres". National Hockey League. 13 October 2014.
5. "Karlsson, Etem Reassigned to Norfolk (AHL)". NHL.com. 24 November 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
6. "Blue Jackets acquire William Karlsson, Rene Bourque and pick from Anaheim in exchange for James Wisniewski". Columbus Blue Jackets. 2 March 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
7. "NHL expansion draft: Karlsson gets expected phone call". Columbus Dispatch. 22 June 2017. Archived from the original on 25 June 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
8. Lawless, Gary (21 November 2017). "Catching Up With William Karlsson". NHL.com. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
9. Yost, Travis (19 February 2018). "Is Las Vegas home to hockey's best line?". tsn.ca. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
10. "Karlsson gets first Golden Knights hat trick in win against Maple Leafs". NHL. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
11. "Karlsson's hat trick helps Golden Knights beat Flames". sportsnet.ca. 18 March 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
12. Lawless, Gary (15 April 2018). "Erik Haula Ready To Feel Joy Of Playoffs". NHL.com. Retrieved 17 April 2018. His highlight-reel goal against the San Jose Sharks tied him with Brian Bradley (TBL, 1992-93) for the most goals scored by a player on an expansion team in their inaugural season (excluding mergers) and he passed Bradley with a goal at Vancouver.
13. "Alex Ovechkin Captures 2017-18 Rocket Richard Trophy". NHL.com. 8 April 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
14. "Lady Byng Trophy finalists unveiled". NHL.com. 20 April 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
15. "Karlsson of Golden Knights wins Lady Byng for NHL sportsmanship". NHL.com. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
16. "William Karlsson vinner Guldpucken" (in Swedish). Sportbladet. 30 June 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
17. NHL.com (4 August 2019). "Karlsson signs one-year contract with Golden Knights" . Retrieved 25 June 2019.
18. NHL.com (18 August 2018). "Karlsson determined to prove worth to Golden Knights" . Retrieved 25 June 2019.
19. NHL.com (24 June 2019). "Karlsson signs eight-year contract with Golden Knights" . Retrieved 25 June 2019.
20. Delos Santos, Paul (14 June 2023). "Original 'Misfits' get Golden Knights started to Cup-clinching Game 5 win". NHL.com. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
21. "William Karlsson: Fler vill hälsa på mig nu". märsta.nu (in Swedish). 28 November 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
22. "Karlsson: Bra att ha flickvän i Vegas – har blivit lugnare". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). 28 August 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
23. @WKarlsson71 (11 November 2018). "Svenska mästarna, AIK!" (Tweet) (in Swedish). Retrieved 18 March 2023– via Twitter.
24. "Willliam Karlsson drömde om AIK i fotboll nu är han bäste svensk i NHL". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). 27 November 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
25. "Bachelor Nation's Emily Ferguson Gives Birth, Welcomes 1st Child With William Karlsson". Yahoo Entertainment. 15 May 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
26. Brewer, Contessa (14 June 2023). "Golden Knights' Stanley Cup win cements Las Vegas as a big-time sports city". CNBC. Retrieved 18 June 2023.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com , or  Eliteprospects.com , or  Eurohockey.com , or  Hockey-Reference.com , or  The Internet Hockey Database

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Johan Larsson	Winner of the SHL Rookie of the Year award 2013	Succeeded by Andreas Johnsson
Preceded by Johnny Gaudreau	Lady Byng Memorial Trophy 2018	Succeeded by Aleksander Barkov