PuckSleuth
Linus Karlsson94

Vancouver Canucks · Center · Shoots R

Linus Karlsson

Age 26 · 6'1" · 178 lb · Born in Landsbro, SWE

Cap hit

$2.25M

2.2% of $104M cap

Term

2 yrs

Through 2027-28, then UFA

Clause

None

Surplus value

+$2.335M

vs. $4.585M market estimate

Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source

2026-27 regular season

GP

2

Goals

0

0.0% shooting

Assists

1

0 primary

Points

1

0.50 per game

TOI/GP

13:42

PP 1:12 · PK 0:04

xGF%

39.8

5v5, -8.4 vs. last yr

Game Score

+0.04

per game

Faceoff %

—

2 W · 2 L

Plus/minus

-4

Blocks 1 · Hits 0

Game log

Last 5 games · NHL API

GameGASOGHITBLKTOIPPPKFOOZS%GVTK+/-GS
Oct 1
vs EDM · L 9-7
0010113:471:450:071-16710-3-0.21
Sep 29
@ EDM · W 6-5
0120013:370:380:001-13300-1+0.29
Apr 16
@ EDM · L 6-1
0020216:190:160:00—5010-2-0.14
Apr 14
vs LAK · W 4-3
0020213:230:390:000-250100+0.11
Apr 12
@ ANA · W 4-3
0001115:570:000:000-160100+0.01

GS = our Game Score (credit for everything he did; goals and assists count most). 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 · 848 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards

xGF%48.2%

40th percentile

Relative xGF%+7.2

97th percentile

HDCF%50.8%

61st percentile

CF%50.4%

63rd percentile

Relative CF%+4.9

94th percentile

FF%50.4%

59th percentile

GF%37.0%

13th percentile

CF/6055.5

49th percentile

CA/6054.6

73rd percentile

ixG/601.12

65th percentile

Goals above expected-0.9

45th percentile

IPP78.4%

89th percentile

PDO93.4

1st percentile

OZS%53.8%

54th 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 playmaker

Trait percentiles vs. NHL centers · 2025-26

Karlsson is a responsible two-way center who moves the puck crisply and plays solid defense, but lacks the speed and agility to generate transition offense. He succeeds through accuracy and positioning rather than skating ability.

Pass-firstDefensive-mindedSlot shooter
Shooting volume
78
Playmaking
70
Zone entries(est.)
35
Forechecking
57
Physicality
48
Defensive impact
70
Puck management
37
Speed
36

Where he shoots from

Slot 63% · Mid-range 30% · Perimeter 7%(180 unblocked shots)

Strengths

  • Playmaking at 70th percentile helps create chances for linemates
  • Defensive impact at 70th percentile shows strong off-puck positioning
  • Shooting volume at 78th percentile demonstrates consistent offensive involvement

Watch-outs

  • Speed at 36th percentile limits his ability to lead rush chances
  • Puck management at 37th percentile means occasional turnovers in transition
  • Zone entries at 35th percentile reflects difficulty getting the puck in cleanly

Similar style: Anton Lundell (FLA), Tomas Hertl (VGK)

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 · 79 GP

Season total +34.0, or +0.43 per game.

Scoring
+27.4
Shooting
+8.7
5-on-5 goals
-3.9
Defense
-0.8
Penalty kill
-0.1
Physical play
+2.8
Puck battles
-1.7
Penalties
+1.9
Faceoffs
-0.2

Game Score gives credit for everything a player does in a game. Goals (1.0) and assists (0.7 primary, 0.5 secondary) count most; shots, blocks, hits, takeaways, penalties drawn, faceoff wins, killing penalties, and holding down the other team's chances add to it. Only mistakes subtract: goals against at 5-on-5, giveaways, penalties taken, faceoff losses, and allowing more chances than an average player would. A player who is there to defend or kill penalties is not marked down for not scoring. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.

Career stats

From the NHL's player records

SeasonLeagueTeamGPGAP+/-PIM
2013-14U16 Div.2Boro/Vetlanda U1614151025—42
2014-15J18 Div.1Boro/Vetlanda J1820131932—42
2014-15J20 Div.1Boro/Vetlanda J202220929—30
2014-15 (playoffs)TV-PuckenSmåland 21000—0
2015-16J18 Div.1Boro/Vetlanda HC J181113821—12
2015-16J20 Div.1Boro/Vetlanda HC J206448—6
2015-16Division 2Boro/Vetlanda HC20437—2
2015-16 (playoffs)Division 2Boro/Vetlanda HC2101—0
2016-17Division 2Boro/Vetlanda HC31212344—32
2016-17J18 Div.1Boro/Vetlanda HC J1835510—6
2016-17J20 Div.1Boro/Vetlanda HC J203246—27
2016-17 (playoffs)J18 Div.1Boro/Vetlanda HC J1845510—4
2017-18J20 SuperElitKarlskrona HK J2042272552+1126
2017-18SHLKarlskrona HK13011-32
2017-18 (playoffs)J20 SuperElitKarlskrona HK J206224+110
2017-18 (playoffs)SHLKarlskrona HK100002
2018-19HockeyAllsvenskanKarlskrona HK5251318+759
2018-19J20 SuperElitKarlskrona HK J201022+20
2018-19 (playoffs)HockeyAllsvenskanKarlskrona HK5101-24
2018-19 (playoffs)J20 SuperElitKarlskrona HK J204235-10
2019-20HockeyAllsvenskanKarlskrona HK3681422-718
2019-20HockeyAllsvenskanBIK Karlskoga126121800
2019-20 (playoffs)HockeyAllsvenskanBIK Karlskoga1202-10
2020-21HockeyAllsvenskanBIK Karlskoga52203151+2632
2020-21 (playoffs)HockeyAllsvenskanBIK Karlskoga118715-52
2021-22SHLSkellefteå AIK52262046+1018
2021-22Champions HLSkellefteå AIK811202
2021-22EHTSweden6213-34
2021-22 (playoffs)SHLSkellefteå AIK6011-66
2022-23AHLAbbotsford Canucks72242549-472
2022-23 (playoffs)AHLAbbotsford Canucks6112-46
2023-24NHLVancouver Canucks400000
2023-24AHLAbbotsford Canucks60233760+930
2023-24 (playoffs)NHLVancouver Canucks2000-12
2023-24 (playoffs)AHLAbbotsford Canucks6202010
2024-25NHLVancouver Canucks23336+56
2024-25AHLAbbotsford Canucks32231639+1324
2024-25 (playoffs)AHLAbbotsford Canucks24141226+428
2025-26NHLVancouver Canucks79152035-2842
2026-27NHLVancouver Canucks2011-42

Every league he has played in, from the NHL's records, regular season and playoffs.

Usage

Last game: vs EDM, Oct 1

Line 2 with Jake DeBrusk and Elias Pettersson (6:10 together at 5-on-5) · PP2

From the NHL's shift chart.

Latest news

Headlines from news outlets and team blogs

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 +0.38 per game over these 10.

Skating · NHL EDGE

2026-27, as of Oct 2

Top speed
19.8 mph
20th pct
20+ mph bursts
0
Hardest shot
75.0 mph
63rd pct
Distance
2.2 mi
OZ time
37.3%
18th pct
DZ time
43.5%

Age curve

NHL forwards · production index

202937

At 26, forwards typically produce 98% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 27, when the typical level is 96%.

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

2 seasons left

SeasonTeamCap hit% of cap
2026-27VAN$2.25M2.2%
2027-28VAN$2.25M2.0%

UFA after 2027-28. $4.5M 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).