Golden Knights, Karlsson agree to 1-year deal worth $5.25M
The Vegas Golden Knights and leading scorer William Karlsson settled on a one-year, $5.25-million contract Saturday ahead of the 25-year-old's arbitration date, the team announced.
Both sides were $3 million apart in negotiations, as Karlsson was reportedly seeking a $6.5-million salary; the Western Conference champs countered with $3.5 million. Vegas is providing Karlsson a chance to prove he's worth a long-term commitment, as he'll be a restricted free agent once again following the 2018-19 season.
Karlsson was the engine of the Golden Knights' stunning debut season, and his personal success was as unexpected as Vegas'. After recording just 50 points in the first 183 games of his career, split between the Anaheim Ducks and Columbus Blue Jackets, Karlsson took off in Sin City, notching 43 goals and 78 points with an astronomical 23.4 shooting percentage.
With Karlsson taken care of, the lone member of the Golden Knights without a contract for next season is defenseman Shea Theodore.