Karlsson, 32, additionally missed the primary eight common season video games with an undisclosed damage. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet wrote Thursday that there’s been a lingering damage bothering Karlsson that might stop him from suiting up for Sweden in subsequent month’s 4 Nations Face-Off, so it stands to purpose the 2 are associated.
One in every of three gamers remaining on Vegas’ roster from their inaugural season, Karlsson has operated because the Knights’ third-line heart when wholesome in 2024-25. With the discount in position has come a slight lower in minutes, along with his 17:11 ATOI clocking in as his lowest throughout his Vegas tenure by a slight margin.
Possible as a result of a mixture of his discount in power-play utilization and his nagging damage, this season has been a troublesome one for Karlsson offensively. He’s scored seven objectives and 11 assists for 18 factors via 38 video games, down sharply from final 12 months’s resurgent 30-goal, 60-point marketing campaign.
Karlsson has remained useful to Vegas in different methods. He’s successful faceoffs at a career-best 58.9 p.c charge, main the staff. He additionally grades out as their high defensive ahead this season, recording team-best marks at even energy in CF% (54.8) and GA/60 (1.8), the latter of which solely leads Knights forwards.
The alternate captain’s absence is a giant one for the Golden Knights, who will doubtless flip to Nicolas Roy to extend his minutes at even energy and on the penalty kill to compensate. Roy’s level manufacturing isn’t dissimilar to Karlsson’s this season, however his defensive play is a sizeable downgrade. Vegas permits 3.2 GA/60 at even energy with Roy on the ice, and his Corsi share whereas shorthanded is the worst among the many staff’s common penalty killers.
Vegas has a full lively roster, they usually additionally received news Tuesday that depth ahead Cole Schwindt carries a week-to-week designation with a lower-body challenge. One in every of them will presumably land on injured reserve to permit the Knights to recall a ahead for Thursday’s sport in opposition to the Blues. Tanner Laczynski, a pure heart with a aim in six appearances for Vegas earlier this season, is the likeliest recall choice.
