Vegas Golden Knights forward William Karlsson signed a two-year, $13.5 million contract extension on Wednesday, locking in the 33-year-old center through the 2028-29 season, according to reporting by The Associated Press. Karlsson, one of the franchise’s original players, carries a $6.75 million average annual value in the new deal after finishing the final season of an eight-year, $47.2 million contract.
Contract Terms and Free Agency Timeline
The newly inked two-year extension averts what would have been an unrestricted free agency period for Karlsson on July 1, 2027. Under his previous eight-year, $47.2 million agreement signed on June 24, 2019, he carried a $5.9 million AAV. The updated deal keeps the veteran forward in Vegas through the 2028-29 campaign.
Mark Anderson of The Associated Press noted that Karlsson is joined by defensemen Brayden McNabb and Shea Theodore as the remaining original players from the organization’s inaugural roster, a group known in Vegas as the Misfits. The Golden Knights originally acquired Karlsson from the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft.
Franchise Records and Two-Way Play
Karlsson has cemented himself as a central pillar of the franchise since its debut season, where he set a club single-season record with 43 goals and led the league with a plus-49 rating. The Associated Press highlights his reputation as one of the league’s top two-way players due to his finishing ability and ability to defend the entire ice.
Quick Fact: Karlsson holds the franchise record with 15 short-handed goals and 26 short-handed points, while ranking second in team history with 382 takeaways and a plus-128 rating.
Across 570 regular-season games for Vegas, Karlsson ranks third in franchise history with 238 assists and second in goals (165) and total points (403). Across his 753 total NHL regular-season appearances with the Anaheim Ducks, Blue Jackets, and Golden Knights, he has accumulated 453 points.
Postseason Production and Injury History
Karlsson’s playoff resume includes a plus-55 rating, which leads all active NHL players. He notched 11 goals and six assists with a plus-11 rating over 22 games in 2023, helping the Golden Knights capture the Stanley Cup by defeating the Florida Panthers in five games.
Last season brought physical hurdles. Karlsson missed nearly six months of the regular season and the first round of the playoffs due to a lower-body injury. He returned during the second-round series against Anaheim, contributing three goals and six assists in 15 postseason games before an upper-body injury in Game 5 sidelined him as Vegas eventually fell to the Carolina Hurricanes in six games in the Stanley Cup Final.
William Karlsson's new contract expiration and career stats
When does William Karlsson’s new contract expire?
The two-year, $13.5 million extension takes Karlsson through the end of the 2028-29 NHL season.
How long has William Karlsson played for Vegas?
Karlsson has played for the Golden Knights since their inaugural 2017-18 season, making him one of the last three original team members remaining in the organization.
What are William Karlsson’s career playoff stats with Vegas?
Karlsson has recorded 34 goals and 80 points across 121 playoff games for the franchise, highlighted by a Stanley Cup championship in 2023.
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