William
Karlsson
C · VGK · Defensive · Very good
- PAL
- 73
- WAR
- 0.4
- Value
- 57
- PTS
- 7
2025-26№ 249 / 615
William Karlsson (Vegas Golden Knights) stats and profile: offensive production, ice time, advanced stats, WAR and PAL rating.
William Karlsson
#71CPlays: Centre · 81% of faceoffs
Vegas Golden Knights
HEIGHT : 183 cm · WEIGHT : 86 kg · SHOOTS : L
Born : January 7, 1993 · Marsta, Sweden
Drafted : 2011 · ANA · round 2, pick #53
Contract : $5,900,000 · 2019-20 → 2026-27 · Standard Contract (Extension) · UFA · Signing bonus $2,000,000M-NTC
NHL record
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | Vegas Golden Knights | 19 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
| 2025-26 | Vegas Golden Knights | 14 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 4 |
| 2024-25 | Vegas Golden Knights | 53 | 9 | 20 | 29 | 4 |
| 2023-24 | Vegas Golden Knights | 70 | 30 | 30 | 60 | 22 |
| 2022-23 | Vegas Golden Knights | 82 | 14 | 39 | 53 | 10 |
| 2021-22 | Vegas Golden Knights | 67 | 12 | 23 | 35 | 10 |
| 2020-21 | Vegas Golden Knights | 56 | 14 | 25 | 39 | 4 |
| 2019-20 | Vegas Golden Knights | 63 | 15 | 31 | 46 | 16 |
| 2018-19 | Vegas Golden Knights | 82 | 24 | 32 | 56 | 16 |
| 2017-18 | Vegas Golden Knights | 82 | 43 | 35 | 78 | 12 |
| 2016-17 | Columbus Blue Jackets | 81 | 6 | 19 | 25 | 10 |
| 2015-16 | Columbus Blue Jackets | 81 | 9 | 11 | 20 | 6 |
| 2014-15 | Columbus Blue Jackets | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2014-15 | Anaheim Ducks | 18 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| NHL totals | 771 | 186 | 273 | 459 | 116 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Vegas Golden Knights | 15 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 4 |
| 2024-25 | Vegas Golden Knights | 11 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
| 2023-24 | Vegas Golden Knights | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022-23 | Vegas Golden Knights | 22 | 11 | 6 | 17 | 2 |
| 2020-21 | Vegas Golden Knights | 19 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 2 |
| 2019-20 | Vegas Golden Knights | 20 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 0 |
| 2018-19 | Vegas Golden Knights | 7 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 |
| 2017-18 | Vegas Golden Knights | 20 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 2 |
| 2016-17 | Columbus Blue Jackets | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Playoff totals | 126 | 36 | 47 | 83 | 12 | |
Honours
- 🏆 Stanley Cuponce · 2022-23
- 🏆 Lady Byng Memorial Trophyonce · 2017-18
William Karlsson: our analysis
2025-26 season: 14 GP, 4 G, 3 A, 7 PTS, -1 +/-, 15:09 TOI. WAR 0.4 (249th of 615) · PAL 73, very good.
In 2025-26, William Karlsson, 33, posts a PAL Rating of 73 out of 100 (very good), and his WAR of 0.4 ranks 249th among 615 regulars, in the top half.
His strengths: defense (85, among the best in the league), penalty kill (83, well above average) and possession (77, well above average). On the other hand, discipline (23, well below average) holds him back.
Breaking down his WAR (goals above average), his biggest contribution: EV defense (+0.8); his biggest cost: penalties (-0.2).
A marked decline: his PAL was 89 in 2024-25, against 73 now; his WAR went from 1.0 to 0.4.
Contract-wise, his Value score of 57 (good value) weighs his output against what he costs: 50 is what that salary should buy.
William Karlsson's story
Growing up in Märsta, Karlsson moved through the Swedish club system with stops at Wings HC Arlanda and VIK Västerås HK before breaking into senior hockey in the Allsvenskan in 2011. He reached the top Swedish league with HV71 the following season, then transitioned to North America after signing an NHL entry-level deal; teammates and fans quickly started calling him “Wild Bill.”
Anaheim picked him 53rd overall in the 2011 draft and signed him to a three-year entry-level contract on 20 May 2013. He remained on loan with HV71 for 2013–14, then made his NHL debut on 11 October 2014. Two nights later he scored his first two NHL goals against the Buffalo Sabres. During that early period the Ducks reassigned him to their AHL affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals, to get more ice time.
On 2 March 2015 Karlsson was part of a trade that sent him to the Columbus Blue Jackets alongside René Bourque and a 2015 second-round pick in exchange for James Wisniewski and a 2015 third-round pick. Columbus left him exposed in the 2017 expansion process, and on 21 June 2017 he was selected by the expansion Vegas Golden Knights after the Blue Jackets arranged a package to influence the selection.
Karlsson’s first season in Vegas reshaped his career. Centering a line with Reilly Smith and Jonathan Marchessault, he recorded the franchise’s first-ever hat-trick on 31 December 2017 and added a second on 18 March 2018. He finished 2017–18 with 43 goals—an NHL record for a player in an expansion team’s inaugural campaign—and earned the Lady Byng Trophy and the Guldpucken. After signing a one-year deal in August 2018, he agreed to an eight-year extension in June 2019.
By 2023 Karlsson remained one of the original Golden Knights still with the club when Vegas won the Stanley Cup, and he was in the lineup for the clinching game. He is best described as a centre who reads the game well offensively, finding high-value scoring areas and converting chances in front of the net.
Facts drawn from Wikipédia, told in our own words.
Advanced stats
- TOI/GP
- 17:31
- PP TOI/GP
- 1:17
- SH TOI/GP
- 1:48
- Pts/GP
- 0.32
- EV points
- 5
- Hits
- 4
- Blocks
- 15
- Takeaways
- 6
- Corsi % (SAT)
- 48.8 %
- Off. zone starts
- 35.2 %
- Faceoffs
- 57.6 %
Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)
2026-27 projection
Projected points
22between 9 and 35 (80% range)
- Goals
- 10
- Assists
- 12
- Games
- 52
So far: 6 pts in 19 games. The team has played 19 of 84 games. Projected pace: 0.48 pts per game (last season: 0.50).
The projection follows last season's pace. Tested on 2,265 player seasons (2022-23 to 2025-26): average miss of 9 points over 82 games; for players at 0.9 points per game and up, it ran 5 points high on average.
Trend
Declining
- Points per game: 0.86 in 23-24, 0.55 in 24-25
- PAL Rating: 89 → 73
Outlook, age included
↓ DecliningAge 33: the age when production usually declines
This is only a projection. It knows nothing about injuries, trades or role changes; one player in five finishes outside the range.
Player ratings, 2025-26
All ratings →Fourteen ratings from 0 to 100 drawn from data, never by hand: 75 = established NHL player, 95+ = elite.
OV · OverallConfidence 78 %
90
Star
- SK
- Skating
- 81
- Confidence 73 %
- ST
- Strength
- 72
- Confidence 82 %
- EN
- Endurance
- 74
- Confidence 75 %
- DU
- Durability
- 58
- Confidence 77 %
- CK
- Checking
- 58
- Confidence 82 %
- FG
- Fighting
- 71
- Confidence 58 %
- DI
- Discipline
- 85
- Confidence 82 %
- FO
- Faceoffs
- 87
- Confidence 88 %
- PA
- Passing
- 83
- Confidence 78 %
- SC
- Scoring
- 79
- Confidence 78 %
- DF
- Defense
- 89
- Confidence 75 %
- PS
- Penalty shot
- 64
- Confidence 8 %
- EX
- Experience
- 92
- Confidence 100 %
Why these ratings?Hide details
SK — Skating81
- Top speed (35 %)36.5 · 80
- Bursts > 20 mph /60 (30 %)7.961 · 81
- Distance /60 (20 %)16.6 · 80
- Speed consistency (15 %)35.8 · 80
ST — Strength72
- Contact absorbed /60 (50 %)4.469 · 78
- Body mass (50 %)-0.704 · 69
EN — Endurance74
- Ice time per game (45 %)15.8 · 78
- Total ice time (20 %)206 · 35
- Shift length (15 %)46.5 · 79
- Lowest recent ice time per game (15 %)15.6 · 81
- Special-teams time per game (5 %)2.937 · 80
DU — Durability58
- Share of games played (100 %)0.67 · 58
CK — Checking58
- Hits /60 (70 %)2.608 · 67
- Lowest seasonal rate (20 %)2.129 · 67
- Season volume (10 %)1.386 · 35
FG — Fighting71
- Fights per 82 games (100 %)0.759 · 71
DI — Discipline85
- Net penalty value /60 (50 %)0.049 · 85
- Penalties taken /60 (30 %)0.397 · 87
- Penalties drawn /60 (20 %)0.686 · 71
FO — Faceoffs87
- Faceoff % (85 %)55 · 87
- Faceoffs /60 (15 %)44.8 · 80
PA — Passing83
- Primary assists /60 (40 %)0.839 · 82
- Secondary assists /60 (20 %)0.529 · 77
- Offensive creation (RAPM) (20 %)0.194 · 87
- Power-play points /60 (10 %)4.708 · 78
- Assist consistency (10 %)0.745 · 86
SC — Scoring79
- Goals /60 (25 %)0.915 · 79
- Individual xG /60 (20 %)0.885 · 81
- Finishing (goals − xG per shot) (20 %)-0.368 · 72
- High-danger chances /60 (15 %)1.581 · 84
- xG per shot (10 %)0.082 · 72
- Shot attempts /60 (10 %)14.3 · 82
DF — Defense89
- RAPM defense /60 (35 %)0.166 · 92
- Relative xG against (20 %)-0.159 · 82
- On-ice xG against /60 (15 %)2.412 · 87
- Penalty kill /60 (10 %)0.115 · 87
- Takeaways − giveaways /60 (10 %)-1.158 · 79
- Shot attempts against /60 (5 %)57.3 · 77
- Blocked shots /60 (5 %)2.766 · 76
PS — Penalty shot64
- Shootouts (60 %)32.7 · 76
- Penalty shots (40 %)25.4 · 57
EX — Experience92
- Career regular-season games (65 %)93
- Career playoff games (25 %)91
- NHL seasons (10 %)87
OV — Overall90
- SC · Scoring (20 %)79
- PA · Passing (20 %)83
- DF · Defense (20 %)89
- SK · Skating (12 %)81
- FO · Faceoffs (10 %)87
- EN · Endurance (8 %)74
- DI · Discipline (5 %)85
- ST · Strength (3 %)72
- CK · Checking (2 %)58
| Season | OV | SK | SC | DF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 90 | 81 | 79 | 89 |
| 2024-25 | 91 | 85 | 78 | 89 |
| 2023-24 | 92 | 84 | 85 | 90 |
| 2022-23 | 87 | 86 | 71 | 84 |
The bars show confidence (sample size), not player quality. — : not enough data, not a zero. Engine version 1.0.
WAR and PAL ratings, 2025-26
How we rate →PAL Rating scores performance from 0 to 100 against players at the same position (50 = average player), starting from the player's strength, offensive or defensive. Value Rating compares that performance with what the player costs: 50 means paid what the play is worth.
WAR
0.4
wins above replacement
249 of 615
PAL Rating
73/ 100
Performance · Very good
117 of 476 at the position
Value Rating
57/ 100
Good value
5.90 M$ · expected PAL 66
ProfileDefensiveValue comes mostly from defense
- Offense
- 61
- Defense
- 86
See full detailsHide details
- Offense
- 62
- Creation
- 42
- Shooting
- 58
- Possession
- 77
- Defense
- 85
- Discipline
- 23
- Power play
- 58
- Penalty kill
- 83
From 0 to 100; 50 is the average player at the same position, adjusted for ice time.
| Season | Team | WAR | PAL | Value | Cap hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | VGK | 0.4 | 73 | 57 | 5.90 M$ |
| 2024-25 | VGK | 1.0 | 89 | 82 | 5.90 M$ |
| 2023-24 | VGK | 3.8 | 98 | 99 | 5.90 M$ |
| 2022-23 | VGK | 0.8 | 87 | 72 | 5.90 M$ |
Hockey IQ, 2025-26
Rankings and method →The quality of the player's decisions with and against the puck at 5-on-5, against regulars at the same position (50 = average). PAL measures output; IQ measures how the player plays.
Overall IQ
32/ 100
Below average
better than 32% of forwards, offense and defense combined
Offensive IQ
22/ 100
Below average
passing, shots, puck
Defensive IQ
50/ 100
Average
takeaways, discipline, own zone
Overall IQ isn't an average of the two scores: it's the player's rank with offense and defense combined, 287 of 424 forwards.
See full detailsHide details
Offense
- Playmaking passes
- 35
- Shot selection
- 45
- Penalties drawn
- 30
- Puck management
- 39
Defense
- Takeaways
- 15
- Discipline
- 63
- Safe zone exits
- 67
Percentiles: 80 means better than 80% of regulars at the same position. Play without the puck (positioning, coverage) isn't measured: the NHL doesn't publish that data.
| Season | Team | IQ | Off. | Def. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | VGK | 32 | 22 | 50 |
| 2024-25 | VGK | 59 | 45 | 70 |
| 2023-24 | VGK | 92 | 81 | 87 |
| 2022-23 | VGK | 75 | 30 | 91 |
WAR, 2025-26
How it's calculated →Wins added to the team, compared with a replacement-level player called up from the AHL.
0.4
wins above replacement
0.0 to 1.0 — 90% interval
249 of 615 forwards
+2.3 goals above replacement
Full leaderboard →See full detailsHide details
- EV offense
- +0.8
- EV defense
- +0.8
- Power play
- +0.1
- Penalty kill
- +0.1
- Shooting
- +0.2
- Penalties
- -0.2
- Average → replacement
- +0.5
In goals.
| Season | Team | GP | WAR | 90% interval | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | VGK | 15 | 0.4 | 0.0 to 1.0 | 249/615 |
| 2024-25 | VGK | 50 | 1.0 | 0.3 to 2.0 | 155/596 |
| 2023-24 | VGK | 70 | 3.8 | 2.4 to 5.9 | 16/608 |
| 2022-23 | VGK | 82 | 0.8 | -0.0 to 1.8 | 163/617 |
Player tracking (NHL EDGE)
League EDGE leaderboards →Speed, shot power, distance covered, time by zone: measured by chips in the puck and shoulder pads. 90th percentile = better than 90% of players.
- Hardest shot
- 137.4 km/h68th percentileleague avg. 130.1 km/h
- Top skating speed
- 37.1 km/h92nd percentileleague avg. 35.2 km/h
- Bursts over 20 mph, season
- 3481st percentileleague avg. 21
- Offensive zone time
- 40.5 %31st percentileleague avg. 43.0 %
See full detailsHide details
- Total distance, season
- 86.3 km92nd percentileleague avg. 53.1 km
- Distance, single-game high
- 5.28 km77th percentileleague avg. 4.52 km
- Offensive zone at 5v5
- 41.1 %52nd percentileleague avg. 41.4 %
- Neutral zone time
- 18.3 %59th percentileleague avg. 18.7 %
- Defensive zone time
- 41.2 %33rd percentileleague avg. 38.3 %
Shooting
| Shots on goal | Goals | Shooting % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | 3274th percentile | 365th percentile | 9.4 %27th percentile |
| High danger | 855th percentile | 273rd percentile | 25.0 %68th percentile |
| Mid range | 1282nd percentile | 176th percentile | 8.3 %40th percentile |
| Long range | 153rd percentile | 092nd percentile | 0.0 %86th percentile |
Shots on goal by zone
2026-2027 regular season. Measured by puck and player tracking chips; the percentile ranks the player within the league.
Game log, 2026-27
BUF
DET
PIT
BOS
NJD
OTT
CBJ
STL
TBL
CGY
NSH
MIN
LAK
TOR
SEA
VAN
ANA
CHIWilliam Karlsson: frequently asked questions
How many goals does William Karlsson have in 2026-27?
William Karlsson has 3 goals and 6 points (3 assists) in 19 games in 2026-27.
How old is William Karlsson?
William Karlsson is 33 years old: he was born on January 8, 1993.
How tall is William Karlsson, and how much does he weigh?
William Karlsson is 6'0" (183 cm) and weighs 190 lb (86 kg).
Where is William Karlsson from?
Sweden: William Karlsson was born in Marsta, Sweden.
What team does William Karlsson play for?
William Karlsson plays for the Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL, at C, wearing number 71.
Is William Karlsson injured?
No: William Karlsson is not on the latest NHL injury report. This answer is updated throughout the season.
How good is William Karlsson?
William Karlsson produced 0.4 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2025-26, 249th of 615 players at his position in the NHL. His PAL rating is 73 out of 100: very good for his position.
How much does William Karlsson make?
William Karlsson earns $5.9M for the 2025-26 season. His Value Rating is 57 out of 100 (good value): it measures the on-field return for that salary, compared with players at his position.
When does William Karlsson's contract end?
William Karlsson's contract runs through the 2026-27 season; he will then be an unrestricted free agent. It includes a M-NTC clause.
Is William Karlsson overpaid?
No, he gives more than he costs. His Value rating is 57 out of 100 (good value), where 50 is the output expected for his salary, compared with players at his position.
Is William Karlsson a top-10 player at his position?
No: by WAR, he ranks 249th of 615 players at his position in the NHL in 2025-26. Our comparison tool puts him side by side with any other player.
Is William Karlsson getting better?
No, he is slipping: his PAL rating went from 89 in 2024-25 to 73 in 2025-26 (out of 100, 50 = average player at his position).
How has William Karlsson played lately?
Over his last 10 games, William Karlsson has 2 points (1 goal, 1 assist).
What are William Karlsson's career stats?
Over his NHL career, William Karlsson has 771 games, 186 goals, 273 assists and 459 points. His best season: 2017-18, with 78 points in 82 games.
Where was William Karlsson drafted?
William Karlsson was drafted 53rd overall (round 2) by Anaheim Ducks in 2011.
Is William Karlsson better at home or on the road?
At home: in 2026-27, he averages 0.44 points per game at home (4 in 9 games) and 0.20 on the road (2 in 10 games).
How does William Karlsson perform in the playoffs?
In the playoffs, William Karlsson has 126 games and 83 points in his career. His pace (0.66 points per game) is similar to his regular-season pace (0.60).
Is William Karlsson a good fantasy pick?
Probably not, except in deep leagues: our projection has him at 22 points in 2026-27, or 0.42 points per game.
Is William Karlsson married?
Yes, married to Emily Ferguson.
What is William Karlsson's nationality?
William Karlsson is Swedish.
What awards has William Karlsson won?
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (sportsmanship) — 2018 ; Guldpucken (top Swedish ice hockey player) — 2017–18.
How many championships has William Karlsson won?
1: Stanley Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights — 2023.
What is William Karlsson's nickname?
He is nicknamed "Wild Bill".
Where did William Karlsson play before turning pro?
HV71 (2011–12 season in Allsvenskan; loaned to HV71 for the 2013–14 season).
How many points is William Karlsson projected to score in 2026-27?
Our projection has him at 22 points in 52 games in 2026-27 (9 to 35 points, 80% interval), based on his recent seasons, age and role.
See also: his Vegas Golden Knights teammates
Full roster →
NHL.com ↗ · Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)