Karlsson gets new contract from Vancouver Canucks and he's getting a raise
Linus Karlsson has been working hard, and that effort has been recognized by the Vancouver Canucks with a new contract.
The Canucks announced an extension for Karlsson today that’ll kick in next season. It’s a one-year, one-way deal worth $775,000.
“Linus has worked very hard on his development the past few seasons in Abbotsford and has also shown he can compete at the NHL level,” said Canucks GM Patrik Allvin in a press release.
“He has good size and hands around the net, and we really like the way he competes on the ice.”
The 25-year-old has one goal and zero assists in nine NHL games this year. However, he’s been very productive in the AHL, where he has 19 goals and 13 assists for 32 points in just 28 games this season, and 141 points in 160 career AHL games.
Karlsson recently became the Abbotsford Canucks’ all-time leading goal scorer with 66 across three seasons thus far.
At 6-foot-1, he is a good size and has a strong shot, although he’s struggled to find the time and space needed to get it off when playing in the NHL.
This is Karlsson’s first one-way contract. That means that he’ll be paid the same no matter what level he plays at. This season, he had different salaries for the AHL and NHL, making $150,000 pro-rated with Abbotsford and $775,000 with Vancouver. Next season, they’ll be the same. He’ll make $775,000 no matter how much time he spends in the AHL.
Karlsson will be waiver-eligible next season, which means all 31 other teams will have the chance to claim him if the Canucks send him from the NHL to the AHL. This means he won’t be able to bounce between the levels and must make the big team if he wants to guarantee his future in Vancouver.
The Canucks originally acquired Karlsson via a trade with the San Jose Sharks back at the 2019 trade deadline. They sent prospect Jonathan Dahlen the other way, who has since left North America and has been playing in Sweden for the last three years.