Vancouver Canucks · Center · Shoots R

Linus Karlsson

Age 26 · 6'1" · 178 lb · Born in Landsbro, SWE

Cap hit

$2.25M

2.2% of $104M cap

Term

2 yrs

Through 2027-28, then UFA

Clause

None

Surplus value

+$2.148M

vs. $4.398M market estimate

Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source

2026-27 regular season

Goals

0.0% shooting

Assists

0 primary

Points

0.50 per game

TOI/GP

13:42

PP 1:12 · PK 0:04

xGF%

39.8

5v5, -8.4 vs. last yr

Game Score

-0.41

per game, goals above average

Faceoff %

—

2 W · 2 L

Plus/minus

-4

Blocks 1 · Hits 0

Game log

Last 5 games · NHL API

Game	A	SOG	HIT	BLK	TOI	PP	PK	FO	OZS%	GV	+/-	GS
Oct 1 vs EDM · L 9-7	0	1	0	1	13:47	1:45	0:07	1-1	67	1	-3	-0.18
Sep 29 @ EDM · W 6-5	1	2	0	0	13:37	0:38	0:00	1-1	33	0	-1	-0.65
Apr 16 @ EDM · L 6-1	0	2	0	2	16:19	0:16	0:00	—	50	1	-2	-0.56
Apr 14 vs LAK · W 4-3	0	2	0	2	13:23	0:39	0:00	0-2	50	1	0	-0.33
Apr 12 @ ANA · W 4-3	0	0	1	1	15:57	0:00	0:00	0-1	60	1	0	-0.19

GS = our Game Score, goals above average. FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.

Advanced metrics

5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 848 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards

xGF%48.2%

40th percentile

Relative xGF%+7.2

97th percentile

HDCF%50.8%

61st percentile

CF%50.4%

63rd percentile

Relative CF%+4.9

94th percentile

FF%50.4%

59th percentile

GF%37.0%

13th percentile

CF/6055.5

49th percentile

CA/6054.6

73rd percentile

ixG/601.12

65th percentile

Goals above expected-0.9

45th percentile

IPP78.4%

89th percentile

PDO93.4

1st percentile

OZS%53.8%

54th percentile

xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.

Play styleDefensive playmaker

Trait percentiles vs. NHL centers · 2025-26

Karlsson is a responsible two-way center who moves the puck crisply and plays solid defense, but lacks the speed and agility to generate transition offense. He succeeds through accuracy and positioning rather than skating ability.

Pass-firstDefensive-mindedSlot shooter

Shooting volume: 78
Playmaking: 70
Zone entries(est.): 35
Forechecking: 57
Physicality: 48
Defensive impact: 70
Puck management: 37
Speed: 36

Where he shoots from

Slot 63% · Mid-range 30% · Perimeter 7%(180 unblocked shots)

Strengths

Playmaking at 70th percentile helps create chances for linemates
Defensive impact at 70th percentile shows strong off-puck positioning
Shooting volume at 78th percentile demonstrates consistent offensive involvement

Watch-outs

Speed at 36th percentile limits his ability to lead rush chances
Puck management at 37th percentile means occasional turnovers in transition
Zone entries at 35th percentile reflects difficulty getting the puck in cleanly

Similar style: Anton Lundell (FLA), Tomas Hertl (VGK)

Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.

Where his Game Score comes from

2025-26 · 79 GP · goals above average

Season total +0.1 goals, or +0.00 per game.

Even strength offense: +0.2
Even strength defense: -0.8
Power play: -0.3
Penalty kill: -0.1
Finishing: -0.8
Playmaking: +0.2
Penalties: +1.9
Faceoffs: -0.2

Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.

By season

Regular season

Season	Team	GP	G	A	P	+/-	SOG	TOI/GP	FO%	GS/GP
2026-27	VAN	2	0	1	1	-4	3	13:42	—	-0.41
2025-26	VAN	79	15	20	35	-28	116	12:31	29.4%	+0.00
2024-25	VAN	23	3	3	6	+5	28	10:56	—	-0.06
2023-24	VAN	4	0	0	0	0	4	10:09	—	-0.22

Sentiment & chatter

Fans

—

Beat writers

—

Media

—

Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.

Age curve

NHL forwards · production index

202937

At 26, forwards typically produce 98% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 27, when the typical level is 96%.

From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.

Skating · NHL EDGE

2026-27, as of Oct 2

Top speed: 19.8 mph; 20th pct
20+ mph bursts: 0
Hardest shot: 75.0 mph; 63rd pct
Distance: 2.2 mi
OZ time: 37.3%; 18th pct
DZ time: 43.5%