- William Karlsson signed a two-year extension with the Golden Knights
- The deal keeps one of Vegas’ original players in town through 2028-29
- Read below for the contract terms and Karlsson’s franchise numbers
William Karlsson isn’t going anywhere.
The Golden Knights announced Wednesday that they’ve signed the veteran center to a two-year extension worth $6.75 million per season. The new deal kicks in next year and runs through the 2028-29 campaign.
ESPN’s Emily Kaplan had it first, reporting a few minutes before the announcement that Vegas was closing in on a new contract with Karlsson:
Whoever runs the team’s social account clearly saw the replies piling up. Moments before the official post, Vegas had some fun with fans begging for the news:
Karlsson, 33, is in the final year of the eight-year, $47.2 million contract he signed back in 2019. That deal carried a $5.9 million cap hit, so this one is a modest raise for a player who has been in Vegas since day one.
General manager Kelly McCrimmon has now handled two of his longest-serving forwards the same way this month. Captain Mark Stone got a two-year extension of his own earlier in September, and both deals expire after 2028-29.
Vegas grabbed Karlsson from Columbus in the 2017 expansion draft, and he exploded right away. His 43 goals in that first season are still a franchise record, and he took home the Lady Byng Trophy that summer.
Nine years later, he ranks second in team history in goals (165) and points (403) across 570 regular-season games. Nobody in Golden Knights history has more shorthanded goals than his 15, and he played all 22 playoff games on the 2023 Stanley Cup run.
Last season was a rough one physically. A lower-body injury that needed surgery limited Karlsson to 14 regular-season games, but he came back for the playoffs and put up nine points in 15 games. Then he hurt his wrist in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final against Carolina and needed another surgery this summer.
McCrimmon said Karlsson was a full participant when camp opened, and he suited up for Tuesday’s season opener against Chicago. Now the Golden Knights have their two-way center signed for three more seasons, counting this one.
