[Signing] Knights avoid arbitration with William Karlsson (1yr, $5.25 mil)

[sureLoss]

Chris Johnston @reporterchris
William Karlsson and the Vegas Golden Knights settled before their salary arbitration hearing this morning. No confirmation on terms just yet.


Elliotte Friedman @FriedgeHNIC
Karlsson (LV) settles for $5.25M

player was asking for $6.5 m, team was offering $3.5 mil, midpoint was $5 mil

[DoubleK]

Term will be interesting.

[sureLoss]

I think it is 1 year.

Will be up to Karlsson to prove that last season wasn't a fluke.

[Geeoff]

Since they're in our division and handed us some of our most heartbreaking defeats last year, I hope that not locking up Karlsson long term really comes back to bite the Knights in the behind.

[oldschoolcalgary]

yeah, 5.25 is a great number, but really depends on term...

[burn_this_city]

If he plays like last year it's a steal, if he regresses to 20-25 goals it will be fair value.

[GioforPM]

Pretty fair. He was stellar last year, but only last year.

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

I think it is 1 year.

Will be up to Karlsson to prove that last season wasn't a fluke.

Exactly. If he puts up 40 what does the next contract start with? 7?

[Samonadreau]

A 1 or 2 year would make sense. I dont think there's a bigger question mark in the league. Could be a perrenial 40 goal scorer. Could be 20 goal 40 point guy.

[TheoFleury]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

Exactly. If he puts up 40 what does the next contract start with? 7?

Good luck shooting 23% again. If he does, he should easily be worth draisatl money as crazy as that sounds. Still can't believe he tripled his career shooting percentage. Nuts.

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by Geeoff

Since they're in our division and handed us some of our most heartbreaking defeats last year, I hope that not locking up Karlsson long term really comes back to bite the Knights in the behind.

If it comes back to bite them that means Las Vegas will be a better team.

I'm completely ok with Karlsson turning back into a pumpkin.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by TheoFleury

Good luck shooting 23% again. If he does, he should easily be worth draisatl money as crazy as that sounds. Still can't believe he tripled his career shooting percentage. Nuts.

If he winds up being a perennial ~75 point centreman then yeah. Especially because he can drive his own line.

[Groot]

Pretty arrogant of Karlsson to think he's worth Tom Wilson money

[Party Elephant]

I think Karlson is the most interesting question mark league-wide going into next season. He could repeat his performance from this season or he could become the next Jonathan Cheechoo, or anything in between. Normally I would think it crazy to sign an rfa who just scored 40 goals to a 1 year deal but there is a huge risk to signing him long term.

[Samonadreau]

Interesting thing is after this his qualifying offer is going to be 5.25. Unless I'm missing something.

[Scroopy Noopers]

I believe he will fall back to earth a bit. But I also think it will be a while before we see him score less than 25goals in a season.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

This is exactly the right deal. Fair money, and if he shows he's close to the player he was last year, he'll get paid off big time. If it doesn't happen, then the term protects you, and if it does, you're even happier because you have a top end scorer even if you're paying fair market for him.

[CroFlames]

I'd be curious to know what the player's ask was.

[Lumby Lager]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I'd be curious to know what the player's ask was.

$6.5m