Will Canucks’ Karlsson turn his standout Calder Cup playoffs into an NHL role in 2025-2026?

After playing a key part in the Abbotsford Canucks Calder Cup Championship,  in which he led the Canucks in both goals and points, Linus Karlsson’s focus for the upcoming season is on establishing himself as a full-time NHL player with the Vancouver Canucks.

Last season, Karlsson split games between the AHL and NHL. In 32 games with Abbotsford, he scored 23 goals and 39 points, but only tallied three goals and six points in 23 games with Vancouver.

Heading into training camp, Karlsson will be battling for a spot on the Canucks’ opening-night roster, which leads us to our expectations for Karlsson in 2025-2026.

Meeting expectations: Make the Canucks opening night roster and lock down a spot in the bottom six.

Due to his outstanding performance in the playoffs, in which he led the entire playoffs with 14 goals and 26 points, Karlsson will likely be motivated to carry that momentum into training camp and the preseason as he attempts to crack the opening night roster. But earning a full-time role in the bottom six is a whole different battle. Karlsson will have to compete with Drew O’Connor and Nils Höglander, as well as last year’s teammates Aatu Räty and Max Sasson. Four very solid depth players who will all be hungry to impress a new coaching staff and solidify their own position on the team.

At the NHL level, Karlsson’s defensive skill and speed were evident last season, and at times, Canucks fans saw flashes of offence. But with only six points in 23 games, seeing an increase in offensive production would go a long way for Karlsson as he battles to become an NHL regular.

Exceeding expectations: Reach a new career high of 20 points and earn a contract extension.

Twenty points may sound like a stretch for Karlsson, whose NHL career high point total is six. But if he can lock down a roster spot that allows him to play 50+ games, it’s not entirely out of reach – especially if he ends up seeing minutes with skilled wingers such as Nils Hoglander and Kiefer Sherwood.

For Karlsson, this season may provide the best opportunity for him to make a push for one of the Canucks bottom six spots. With the subtractions of JT Miller and Pius Suter, there is likely to be a lot of line juggling throughout the season to find new chemistry with Conor Garland likely graduating to the top-six. Not to mention, everybody gets a fresh opportunity with a new head coach at the helm, there’s no better time to have a good showing in the preseason.

Whether Karlsson is able to make the NHL roster out of training camp could have contract implications.

Currently, Karlsson is signed to a one-year, one-way contract, meaning he receives the same salary at both the AHL and NHL levels. For Karlsson, this season presents an opportunity to prove he can provide sufficient value to an NHL team – whether it be the Canucks or another team in the league – to earn another NHL contract.

If Karlsson is able to put together a successful NHL season, which includes solid numbers with the Canucks, he could very well receive a multi-year one-way extension with the Canucks at the end of the season. However, if he fails to establish himself as an NHL regular, he could very well be headed back to the AHL, or even overseas to Europe.

Failing to meet expectations: A return to the AHL after the preseason, remaining only as a call-up option.

Karlsson has proven his value at the AHL level, finishing in the top five in scoring for Abbotsford, including the 2023-24 season, when he led the team with 60 points and finished in the top 15 in AHL scoring.

Unfortunately for Karlsson, given the amount of competition in the bottom six, it wouldn’t be that surprising to see him start the season at the 13th forward, but seeing him sent back to the AHL would be a disappointing development, especially after the regular and postseason success he had with Abbotsford.

In the event he does get sent back to the AHL, Karlsson will undoubtedly be first in line for an NHL call in the event of injuries or trades, but his eyes should be on making the full-time jump to the NHL.