Following a stretch where Linus Karlsson was the club’s top point-getter in December, the Vancouver Canucks have extended him. The contract is a two-year deal worth $2.25 million per season.
Linus Karlsson Signs Two-Year Extension With Vancouver Canucks
General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today that the #Canucks have agreed to terms with forward Linus Karlsson on a two-year contract with a $2.25 million AAV. pic.twitter.com/bJLreailf4
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) January 3, 2026
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The 26-year-old forward has 16 points on the season so far in 36 games, with nine goals and seven assists. Eight of those points came in December alone, leading the team. In his career, he has played in 63 NHL games, scoring 22 points (12 goals, 10 assists). Additionally, he has played in two Stanley Cup Playoff games. He also led the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks to a Calder Cup championship in 2025, with a team-leading 26 points (14 goals, 12 assists). Karlsson has also appeared in 164 career AHL games, registering 70 goals and 78 assists, for 148 points.
In the official press release by the Canucks as Linus Karlsson signs, general manager Patrik Allvin praised his growth and his “development on and off the ice“. He has been able to obtain a roster spot and keep it throughout the season. Whether or not that is due to the injuries that the team has sustained, he has still proved his worth.
Karlsson was drafted in 2018 by the San Jose Sharks in the third round, at 87th overall. The Canucks obtained him through a trade in February 2019 in exchange for Jonathan Dahlén. Before entering the Canucks’ system, Karlsson spent the 2021-22 season with Skellefteå AIK in the Swedish Hockey League. It was there that he earned the SHL Rookie of the Year Award, sparking his future in the NHL.
With the Canucks struggling to score throughout the season, Karlsson has turned some heads with his play recently. He is not a very young player at 26, so there were trade rumours regarding him. The Canucks have rewarded him with a nice pay raise, and have quashed those rumours in the process. Only time will tell if Karlsson will continue to improve and become a permanent fixture in the Canucks roster.
Main Photo Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images