William Karlsson (born Lars William Karlsson) is a 28-calendar year-outdated Qualified hockey player for that Nationwide Hockey League. He currently plays for that Vegas Golden Knights in Las Vegas, and has also played for Anaheim Ducks and Columbus Blue Jackets in his career.
Karlsson was born in January 1993 and originates from Marsta, Sweden. While his childhood dream was to Enjoy AIK football, he ended up moving into a different sport completely – ice hockey. Like a teen and younger adult, he played for Vasteras, a next division Swedish group. Karlsson also represented Sweden within the IIHF World Junior Championships, winning a gold medal in 2012 as well as a silver medal in 2013. He went on to earn Rookie in the Calendar year award in 2013 in the Swedish Hockey League at age 21.
However the highlights of William Karlsson’s job wouldn't appear until eventually he in the end joined the Nationwide Hockey League from the US. He were drafted by Anaheim Ducks while in the 2011 Entry Draft, And at last played his very first sport within the NHL in Oct 2014. A few nights later, he scored not merely his 1st NHL purpose, but two of them, inside a game the place Anaheim confronted the Buffalo Sabres.
William Karlsson noticed ice time in a total of 17 online games that period for Anaheim, nevertheless he was commonly shuffled right down to the AHL affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals, just before at some point staying traded on the Columbus Blue Jackets in March 2015. In his really initial game with CBJ, he experienced an assist, followed by his first target with them just a couple evenings later on.
Karlsson did not have pretty impressive seasons to include the Columbus Blue Jackets, causing him staying left “unprotected†in 2017 during the NHL enlargement draft that will variety the 1st Skilled sports staff in Las Vegas, the Vegas Golden Knights. In that draft, the Golden Knights selected Karlsson and, however it may not have felt excellent to him at time, that turned the beginning of a new and vital chapter in his NHL profession.
William Karlsson was matched with two other forwards who had originate from the Florida Panthers – Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith. With each other, they turned among the most efficient leading strains within the NHL. All three players place up vocation-substantial quantities through the inaugural time.
Karlsson scored his very first NHL hat trick in December that to start with period from the Toronto Maple Leafs, and made crew history by recording the initial hat trick of your franchise. He scored Yet another hat trick from the Calgary Flames in March of 2018. William Karlsson ended the typical time with forty three targets, positioning him third maximum in NHL scoring powering Ovechkin (49) and Laine (44). Those people 43 targets also locked him into your record for many aims scored by a participant on an expansion workforce.
In 2018, William Karlsson was also nominated for and finally turned the recipient of your Woman Byng Memorial Trophy. This award is presented to the participant who is acknowledged for his “gentlemanly carry out, remarkable sportsmanship and high regular of Engage in.†Karlsson was the 1st participant since Wayne Gretzky to get an stop-of-year award inside their workforce’s inaugural time. William Karlsson also received the 20172018 Guldpucken award, which goes to the very best more info Swedish hockey player on a yearly basis.
Karlsson’s overall performance inside the VGK inaugural period attained him a one particular-12 months agreement extension valued at $5.25 million. Even though he was hoping for a more long lasting deal, he utilized the extension as ammunition to put up An additional great season, proving that his insanely great season wasn’t a fluke.
Following putting up 24 goals and 32 helps in the 2nd year, the Vegas Golden Knights presented William Karlsson a stellar deal – an eight-year $forty seven.two million agreement, which equates to approximately $5.nine million a calendar year, which he Fortunately signed. He is currently getting into season three of that arrangement, which lasts throughout the 2026-2027 period.
On a personal entrance, William Karlsson is engaged to Emily Ferguson, that is properly-identified inside the US for becoming a previous contestant to the Tv set actuality display “The Bachelor.†The pair turned engaged in 2020 and adopted a Pet who was a survivor in the Korean dog meat trade, who they fondly connect with Obi, small for Obi-Wan Karlsson. William, Emily and Obi all have an incredibly robust and well-liked social media marketing existence. William is nicknamed “Wild Bill,†nevertheless even Karlsson himself click here doesn’t recall in which the moniker arrived from; only that it had been assigned to him in his initial time with Anaheim and just “caught on.†Karlsson is most absolutely a enthusiast most loved about the Vegas Golden Knights group, where by he is noted for his wonderful hockey hair or “flow†as Anyone calls it.
William Karlsson has long been an exceptionally beneficial member with the VGK group considering the fact that its inception and that fateful working day he was selected just after his previous workforce chose not to safeguard him in the growth draft. Fans and teammates alike hope that Karlsson sees an incredibly lengthy job and bright foreseeable future in advance With all the Vegas Golden Knights.