Vancouver Canucks nearly triple Linus Karlsson's salary with two-year extension
What a way to start the year for Linus Karlsson.
The Vancouver Canucks announced on Friday that they had re-signed the 26-year-old Karlsson to a two-year contract extension worth $2.25 million per season.
This new deal gives Karlsson a significant pay bump from the $775,000 he’s currently making. The first-year full-time NHLer was set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this campaign.
After beginning the 2025-26 season in the press box, Karlsson has played 36 straight games for the Canucks before their matchup against the Seattle Kraken on Friday night.
And, after scoring his first goal of the season back on Nov. 9, Karlsson leads all Canucks in goals scored during that time span.
These are the only Canucks who’ve scored more than three goals since Nov. 9, 2025. (NHL.com)
Not only has he been the Canucks most proficient goal scorer since early November, but he’s done so while averaging just 10:32 of ice time per game. That ranks 12th among Canucks forwards who’ve played at least 10 games this season.
The Eksjo, Sweden native entered this season as a likely roster candidate after leading the Abbotsford Canucks in both goals and points during their Calder Cup championship win.
And as the season has progressed, Karlsson has become a more trusted option in the Canucks lineup. That was evident by the fact that he played a career-high 17:22 during the Canucks 6-3 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers back on Dec. 30.
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Prior to Friday night’s contest against the Seattle Kraken, Karlsson was skating on a line with Jake DeBrusk and Elias Pettersson.
Not bad for a guy who started the season as the odd man out.
Former Canucks coach Rick Tocchet proclaimed last season that Karlsson reminded him of another Swedish net-front menace in Tomas Holmstrƶm.
Perhaps that’s a lofty comparison for the young Canucks winger.
Then again, after spending three years in the AHL before this season, he’s probably proven a few doubters wrong.