William Karlsson, affectionately known as "Wild Bill", was born on January 8, 1993. He is a Swedish professional ice hockey center and alternate captain for the Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL. Drafted 53rd overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Karlsson began his professional career in Sweden with HV71. After moving to North America, he played for the Anaheim Ducks and Columbus Blue Jackets before being selected by the Golden Knights in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft.
Karlsson quickly became an important player for Vegas' offense, scoring a career-high 43 goals in their inaugural season and helping the team reach the Stanley Cup Finals. Karlsson remains a strong asset for the Golden Knights and a standout player in the NHL.
William Karlsson's contract breakdown
William Karlsson signed an eight-year, $47.2 million contract with the Vegas Golden Knights, including a $2 million signing bonus and an annual average salary of $5.9 million according to Spotrac. The contract guarantees $47.2 million, and Karlsson will become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) in 2027. Below is the breakdown of his contract:
| Year | Age | Cap Hit | League Cap | Cash Earned | Cumulative Cash |
| 2019-20 | 27 | $5,900,000 | $81,500,000 | $5,900,000 | $5,900,000 |
| 2020-21 | 28 | $5,900,000 | $81,500,000 | $5,900,000 | $11,800,000 |
| 2021-22 | 29 | $5,900,000 | $81,500,000 | $7,100,000 | $18,900,000 |
| 2022-23 | 30 | $5,900,000 | $82,500,000 | $5,900,000 | $24,800,000 |
| 2023-24 | 31 | $5,900,000 | $83,500,000 | $5,600,000 | $30,400,000 |
| 2024-25 | 32 | $5,900,000 | $88,200,000 | $5,600,000 | $36,000,000 |
| 2025-26 | 33 | $5,900,000 | $88,200,000 | $5,600,000 | $41,600,000 |
| 2026-27 | 34 | $5,900,000 | $88,200,000 | $5,600,000 | $47,200,000 |
William Karlsson's salary
William Karlsson's contract with the Vegas Golden Knights is an 8-year deal worth $47.2 million. His average annual salary (AAV) is $5.9 million. For the 2024-25 season, his base salary is $5.6 million as per Spotrac.
How much of William Karlsson’s contract is guaranteed?
William Karlsson’s contract with the Vegas Golden Knights is fully guaranteed, meaning the entire $47.2 million is guaranteed. This includes his base salaries throughout the contract and the $2 million signing bonus as per Spotrac.
What are the terms of William Karlsson’s contract?
According to Spotrac, Karlsson has submitted a 10-team no-trade list from the 2020-2026 season, meaning he cannot be traded to those 10 teams in the list from 2020 to 2026.
William Karlsson's career earnings
As of 2024, William Karlsson has earned $44,453,494 throughout his professional hockey career, including his current season earnings with the Vegas Golden Knights. Karlsson is set to make an additional $11,200,000 over the next two seasons (2025 and 2026). His total career earnings will reach $55,653,494 by the end of the 2026 season as per Spotrac.
William Karlsson's contract history
William Karlsson has signed a total of four contracts in his NHL career. Starting from his entry-level contract with the Anaheim Ducks in 2013. Below is a breakdown of his contract history:
| Year Signed | Team | Contract Length | Total Value | Signing Bonus | Average Annual Salary (AAV) | Free Agent Status at End |
| 2013 | Anaheim Ducks | 3 years | $2,492,500 | $277,500 | $830,833 | 2016 / RFA |
| 2016 | Columbus Blue Jackets | 2 years | $2,000,000 | N/A | $1,000,000 | 2018 / RFA |
| 2018 | Vegas Golden Knights | 1 year | $5,250,000 | N/A | $5,250,000 | 2019 / RFA |
| 2019 | Vegas Golden Knights | 8 years | $47,200,000 | $2,000,000 | $5,900,000 | 2027 / UFA |
FAQs on William Karlsson salary
A. William Karlsson's contract with the Vegas Golden Knights is eight-year long.
A. William Karlsson is playing for the Vegas Golden Knights.
A. William Karlsson's average annual salary is $5.9 million under his eight-year contract with the Knights.
A. Yes, William Karlsson has a son.
