Knights Sign William Karlsson to Two-Year, $13.5M Deal

Vegas has secured center William Karlsson through the 2028-29 season with a two-year extension carrying a $6.75 million AAV.

The Vegas Golden Knights announced Wednesday that center William Karlsson has signed a two-year contract extension worth $13.5 million. The deal carries an average annual value of $6.75 million and ensures the 33-year-old remains with the franchise through the 2028-29 season. Karlsson, an original member of the team acquired from Columbus during the 2017 expansion draft, ranks second in franchise history with 156 goals and 403 points across 570 regular season appearances.

Injuries have impacted Karlsson’s availability over the previous two years. He played 53 games during the 2024-25 season and was limited to 14 games in 2025-26 due to a lower-body injury that caused him to miss the final 68 regular season contests. Although he returned for 15 playoff games to help Vegas reach the Stanley Cup Final, he was sidelined for Game 6 of that series against Carolina after sustaining an injury in Game 5.

Karlsson previously contributed 17 points in 22 games during the club's 2023 Stanley Cup championship run. Known as a primary penalty killer and two-way forward, he is slated to play on the second line alongside Mitch Marner and Brett Howden for the 2026-27 season. While he recorded a career-high 43 goals in 2017-18, the club continues to rely on his defensive reliability and veteran presence.