William Karlsson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids William Karlsson |
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Karlsson with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2018
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| Born | 8 January 1993 Märsta, Sweden |
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| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb) | ||
| Position | Centre | ||
| Shoots | Left | ||
| NHL team Former teams |
Vegas Golden Knights HV71 Anaheim Ducks Columbus Blue Jackets |
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| National team |  Sweden |
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| NHL Draft | 53rd overall, 2011 Anaheim Ducks |
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| Playing career | 2011–present | ||
William Karlsson, often called "Wild Bill," is a skilled Swedish ice hockey player. He plays as a forward and is an alternate captain for the Vegas Golden Knights in the National Hockey League (NHL). William was chosen by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2011 NHL draft. Before joining the Golden Knights, he also played for the Ducks and the Columbus Blue Jackets.
William became a very important player for the Golden Knights after they picked him in the 2017 NHL expansion draft. He helped the team reach the Stanley Cup Finals in their very first season. In that amazing first year with Vegas, William scored 43 goals, which was his best season ever. He also became the team's all-time leading goal scorer.
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William Karlsson's Hockey Journey
Starting in Sweden
William Karlsson began his professional hockey career in Sweden. During the 2011–12 season, he played for VIK Västerås HK in a league called Allsvenskan. He scored 45 points in 46 games, which was the second-highest on his team. He also made his top-league debut in Sweden with HV71.
Playing for Anaheim and Columbus
On May 20, 2013, William signed a three-year contract with the Anaheim Ducks. This was the team that had drafted him in 2011. He was loaned back to HV71 for the 2013–14 season to continue developing his skills.
William played his first NHL game on October 11, 2014. Just two days later, he scored his first two NHL goals against the Buffalo Sabres. He spent some time playing for Anaheim's minor league team, the Norfolk Admirals, during that season.
In March 2015, William was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets. This trade involved a few players and draft picks changing teams.
Joining the Vegas Golden Knights
On June 21, 2017, William was chosen by the brand-new Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 NHL expansion draft. The Blue Jackets made a deal with Vegas, trading some draft picks and an injured player, David Clarkson, so that the Golden Knights would pick Karlsson.
The 2017–18 season was the Golden Knights' first year in the NHL, and William played a huge role. He played on a line with Reilly Smith and Jonathan Marchessault, and they were incredibly successful together. All three players had their best offensive seasons ever.
William scored his first NHL hat-trick (three goals in one game) on December 31, 2017, against the Toronto Maple Leafs. This was also the first hat-trick in Golden Knights history! He scored another hat-trick on March 18, 2018, against the Calgary Flames.
He finished that regular season with 43 goals, which was an NHL record for a player on a new expansion team. His 43 goals placed him third in the entire NHL for that season. William also won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for being a great player who showed excellent sportsmanship. He was also named the top Swedish ice hockey player for the 2017–18 season, winning the Guldpucken award.
After his amazing season, William signed a new one-year contract with Vegas in August 2018. He wanted to prove that his great performance was not just luck.
On June 24, 2019, William signed a big eight-year contract with the Golden Knights. He had scored 24 goals and 32 assists (56 points) in the 2018–19 season. This new contract will keep him with the team until the end of the 2026–27 season.
By the 2022–23 season, William was one of only six original Golden Knights players still on the team. The team made it to the Stanley Cup Finals again and won the Stanley Cup by defeating the Florida Panthers in five games. William and four other original Golden Knights players started the final game where they won the championship!
William Karlsson's Life Outside Hockey
William Karlsson is a big fan of the Swedish sports club AIK. When he was a child, his biggest dream was to play for the AIK soccer team.
William is married to Emily Ferguson, and they have two sons.
Awards and Achievements
William Karlsson has won several important awards during his career:
| Award | Year | |
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| Swedish Hockey League (SHL) | ||
| SHL Rookie of the Year | 2013 | |
| Guldpucken (Top Swedish Player) | 2018 | |
| National Hockey League (NHL) | ||
| Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (Sportsmanship) | 2018 | |
| Viking Award (Best Swede in NHL) | 2018 | |
| Stanley Cup champion | 2023 | |
Records William Holds
- William holds the NHL record for the most goals scored by a player in an expansion team's first season. He scored 43 goals for the Vegas Golden Knights in 2018. The previous record was 42 goals.
International Medals
William Karlsson has also represented Sweden in international hockey tournaments and won medals:
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| Medal record | ||
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| Representing Sweden |
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| Ice hockey | ||
| World Championships | ||
| Gold | 2017 Germany/France | |
| Bronze | 2025 Sweden/Denmark | |
| World Junior Championships | ||
| Gold | 2012 Calgary | |
| Silver | 2013 Ufa | |
