LAS VEGAS — Vegas Golden Knights center William Karlsson started Friday night’s game against the Winnipeg Jets to commemorate the 700th game of his career.
Karlsson, an original member of the eight-year-old franchise, has been in the league 11 years.
Karlsson was drafted by Anaheim, 53rd overall, in the second round of the 2011 NHL Draft. After making his pro debut in 2014 and playing just 18 game with the Ducks, he was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Karlsson played three years in Columbus and was left unprotected for the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft. The Jackets traded a first-round pick in 2017, a second-round pick in 2019 and injured forward David Clarkson to Vegas with an agreement the Knights would select Karlsson in the expansion draft.
Karlsson turned in a career year for the Knights as he scored 43 goals to set a new NHL record for goals scored by a player in an expansion team’s inaugural season.
His 377 points are the second-highest all-time for the Vegas franchise, and rank No. 1 of current Golden Knights. His 517 games played for Vegas is second all-time behind teammate Brayden McNabb (526).
“Since Day 1 we’ve been winning, and we’ve maintained that for the majority of these seven years, and I think that’s one of the good things,” Karlsson told The Hockey News recently when asked what he’s loved about playing for the franchise. “It’s been a winning culture. It’s always good to be in. And the owner wants to win, and everyone who works around the team wants to win. And also the organization does a great job of taking care of us players. So there’s a lot to like.”
Karlsson has four goals and six assists thus far this season, with his 10 points ranking 10th on the team.
