PuckSleuth
71Vegas Golden Knights · Center · Shoots L
William Karlsson
Age 33 · 6'0" · 190 lb · Born in Marsta, SWE
Cap hit
$5.9M
5.7% of $104M cap
Term
1 yr
Through 2026-27, then a 2-year extension at $6.75M
Clause
M-NTC
10-team no-trade list
Surplus value
−$1.41M
vs. $4.49M market estimate
Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source
2026-27 regular season
GP
2
Goals
0
0.0% shooting
Assists
0
0 primary
Points
0
0.00 per game
TOI/GP
18:50
PP 1:02 · PK 1:33
xGF%
64.1
5v5, +16.4 vs. last yr
Game Score
-0.10
per game, goals above average
Faceoff %
—
24 W · 10 L
Plus/minus
-2
Blocks 0 · Hits 0
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2 vs ANA · L 4-3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 20:13 | 0:49 | 1:29 | 12-5 | 80 | 0 | 1 | -2 | -0.27 |
| Sep 29 vs CHI · W 5-2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17:26 | 1:14 | 1:37 | 12-5 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0.07 |
| Jun 11 @ CAR · L 4-2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8:43 | 0:00 | 0:00 | 2-4 | 100 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -0.06 |
| Jun 9 vs CAR · L 5-3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 16:53 | 2:10 | 0:54 | 4-8 | 33 | 0 | 0 | +1 | +0.65 |
| Jun 6 vs CAR · W 5-4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 24:09 | 0:03 | 1:11 | 12-14 | 33 | 2 | 0 | +3 | +0.41 |
GS = our Game Score, goals above average. FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.
Advanced metrics
5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 163 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards
69th percentile
52nd percentile
52nd percentile
70th percentile
63rd percentile
81st percentile
1st percentile
82nd percentile
36th percentile
81st percentile
62nd percentile
98th percentile
1st percentile
15th percentile
xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.
Play styleDefensive center
Trait percentiles vs. NHL centers · 2025-26
Karlsson plays a responsible, lower-event game anchored by solid defense and efficient shooting. He generates chances at a league-average rate but struggles to create offense and rarely initiates attack through the neutral zone.
- Shooting volume
- 76
- Playmaking
- 51
- Zone entries(est.)
- 0
- Forechecking
- 1
- Physicality
- 32
- Defensive impact
- 64
- Puck management
- 29
- Speed
- 70
Where he shoots from
Slot 45% · Mid-range 34% · Perimeter 21%(38 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Shooting volume at 76th percentile with quality shot selection from the slot
- Defensive impact at 64th percentile anchoring the middle
- Speed at 70th percentile lets him transition quickly
Watch-outs
- Zone entries at 1st percentile, rarely generating rush chances
- Forechecking at 1st percentile limits offensive pressure creation
- Puck management at 29th percentile leaves room for cleaner possession play
Similar style: Shane Wright (SEA), Kent Johnson (CBJ)
Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.
Where his Game Score comes from
2025-26 · 14 GP · goals above average
Season total +0.2 goals, or +0.02 per game.
- Even strength offense
- -0.1
- Even strength defense
- +0.2
- Power play
- -0.1
- Penalty kill
- +0.2
- Finishing
- +0.3
- Playmaking
- -0.2
- Penalties
- -0.2
- Faceoffs
- +0.2
Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
By season
Regular season
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | SOG | TOI/GP | FO% | GS/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | VGK | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 3 | 18:50 | — | -0.10 |
| 2025-26 | VGK | 14 | 4 | 3 | 7 | -1 | 30 | 15:09 | 57.6% | +0.02 |
| 2024-25 | VGK | 53 | 9 | 20 | 29 | +17 | 119 | 17:01 | 58.1% | +0.01 |
| 2023-24 | VGK | 70 | 30 | 30 | 60 | +15 | 175 | 17:36 | 56.2% | +0.22 |
| 2022-23 | VGK | 82 | 14 | 39 | 53 | +14 | 161 | 17:28 | 55.3% | -0.01 |
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
- “Absolute blessing of a lifetime”: William Karlsson’s wife Emily shares emotional reaction to NHL star’s
The Times of India · Oct 3
- Golden Knights Round-Up featuring Trevor Connelly, the Chicago Blackhawks and more
vegashockeyknight.com · Oct 3
- Golden Knights Re-Sign Original Misfit William Karlsson Through 2029
The Hockey News · Oct 2
- 🎥 MEDIA AVAILABILITY | Karlsson, Hanifin, Theodore & Craig | Vegas Golden Knights
NHL.com · Oct 1
- 🎥 MEDIA AVAILABILITY | Karlsson, Hanifin, Theodore & Craig
NHL.com · Oct 1
- William Karlsson extension gives Golden Knights more cost certainty
Daily Faceoff · Oct 1
- Golden Knights Sign Karlsson to Two-Year, $13.5M Extension
Yardbarker · Oct 1
- Vegas Golden Knights Grant William Karlsson Extension Despite INJURY History
wcnc.com · Oct 1
Sentiment & chatter
Fans
—
Beat writers
—
Media
—
Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.
Recent Game Scores
Last 10 games · goals above average
Average +0.18 per game over these 10.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2026-27, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 19.6 mph
- 16th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 0
- Hardest shot
- 85.4 mph
- 92nd pct
- Distance
- 2.9 mi
- OZ time
- 42.2%
- 53rd pct
- DZ time
- 40.9%
Age curve
NHL forwards · production index
At 33, forwards typically produce 69% of their peak (age 24).
From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.
Contract by season
3 seasons left
| Season | Team | Cap hit | % of cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | VGK | $5.9M | 5.7% |
| 2027-28New deal | VGK | $6.75M | 5.9% |
| 2028-29 | VGK | $6.75M | — |
$19.4M in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).