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Photo of NHL player Erik Karlsson

Pittsburgh Penguins Logo Erik Karlsson

Position Right Defense Current Team Pittsburgh Penguins
Shoots Right Current Contract 8 years ($11.5M CapHit)
Height 6'0" Expires 2026-27
Weight (lbs) 185 Expiry Age (Jun 30) 37
Age (DOB) 35 (May 31, 1990) Expiry Status UFA
Drafted 2008, Round 1, Overall 15 (OTT)
Date Team Transaction
Jun 17, 2019 San Jose Sharks Signed 8 years @ $11.500M AAV starting in 2019-20
Jun 19, 2012 Ottawa Senators Signed 7 years @ $6.500M AAV starting in 2012-13
May 7, 2009 Ottawa Senators Signed to an entry level contract.
Status History Coming Soon


URL: https://thestanleycap.com/cdn/player_cards/20252026/erik-karlsson-8474578.png



URL: https://thestanleycap.com/cdn/player_cards/20242025/erik-karlsson-8474578.png



URL: https://thestanleycap.com/cdn/player_cards/20232024/erik-karlsson-8474578.png

About Player Cards

Player cards present an infographic of a players performance using a series of Player Archetypes developed for Puckalytics.com and TheStanleyCap.com. The boxes in the rink image show the archetype ratings for the season specified in the card while the graphs to the right show the five-year trends for those archetypes.

Except for Faceoffs, the values shown are the players z-score (standard deviation from the mean) for the specific metric used to calculate the archetype values. When calculating z-scores forwards were compared to forwards and defensemen were compared to defensemen. Positive values indicate the player is above average and shaded in blue, while negative values indicate the player is below average and shaded in pink. The five year trend charts show a range of -4.0 to 4.0.

The value shown for Faceoffs is the faceoff winning percentage rather than their z-score with winning percentages below 50 in pink shades and above 50 in blue shades.

All archetypes are 5v5 except 5v4 TOI, 4v5 TOI, Skating (even strength) and Faceoffs (all situations). Archetypes use regular season data only.

Archetypes Summary
  • Sniper - Measures the to score above the expected goal rate.
  • Rebound - Measures the percent of a players shot attempts that come from rebounds (forwards only).
  • 5v4 TOI - Powerplay ice time, calculated as the percentage of his teams 5v4 ice time that the player was on the ice for.
  • Shooter - Measures whether a players points come from shots (goals or assists on rebounds from his shots).
  • Producer - Measures a players ability to produce goals and assists, adjusted for quality of teammates.
  • Playmaker - Measures whether a players points come from passes.
  • Drive - Measures a players ability to drive puck possession and generate shot attempts for his team.
  • Rush - Measures the percent of a players shot attempts that come from rush plays
  • Possession - An indicator of a players ability to improve his teams puck possession game.
  • Faceoffs - Faceoff Winning Percentage (min. 75 faceoffs taken).
  • 5v5 TOI - The percentage of his teams 5v5 TOI that the player was on the ice for.
  • Suppress - Measures a players ability to suppress opponent puck possession and shot attempts against.
  • Skating - An indicator of a players skating ability, or speed bursts above 20mph per mile skated.
  • Defend - An indicator of a players ability to suppress shot quality against.
  • 4v5 TOI - Penalty Kill ice time, calculated as the percentage of his teams 4v5 ice time that the player was on the ice for.
Data Sources
Terms of Use

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If you have any questions, send an e-mail to the e-mail address at the top of this page.

Read Introducing Player Archetypes on HockeyAnalysis.com for more details on archetype calculations.

Core Archetypes

Season Team(s) GP TOI Producer Playmaker Shooter Sniper Rebound Rush Skating Defend
2015-16 OTT 82 4.12 3.08 2.96 1.48 - 0.64 - -2.65
2016-17 OTT 77 3.41 1.23 3.64 1.54 - 0.22 - -0.19
2017-18 OTT 71 3.56 4.35 -0.04 -0.53 - 1.05 - -2.42
2018-19 SJS 53 1.89 3.06 -0.69 -1.17 - 0.41 - -0.55
2019-20 SJS 56 3.08 3.20 0.64 0.52 - 0.73 - 0.23
2020-21 SJS 52 -0.60 -0.59 -0.32 -0.42 - -0.07 - 0.07
2021-22 SJS 50 2.41 0.88 3.49 1.29 - 1.49 3.35 0.34
2022-23 SJS 82 6.02 5.39 3.60 2.22 - -0.89 2.06 -0.92
2023-24 PIT 82 0.44 0.57 -0.12 -0.21 - -0.65 1.53 -0.22
2024-25 PIT 82 1.09 0.85 0.40 -0.17 - 0.03 2.41 -0.43
2025-26 PIT 75 1.52 0.87 1.52 0.89 - -0.70 2.18 -0.30

Situational and Secondary Archetypes

Season Team(s) GP TOI 5v5 TOI 5v4 TOI 4v5 TOI Possession Drive Suppress Faceoffs
2015-16 OTT 82 2.72 2.70 -0.62 2.23 1.87 -1.48 -
2016-17 OTT 77 1.93 1.88 0.34 1.05 1.48 -0.03 -
2017-18 OTT 71 2.30 1.52 -0.41 1.68 1.43 -1.12 -
2018-19 SJS 53 1.05 1.41 0.16 2.14 2.56 -0.70 -
2019-20 SJS 56 0.89 1.46 0.49 1.40 1.31 -0.64 -
2020-21 SJS 52 1.09 1.13 -0.97 -0.44 0.51 1.17 -
2021-22 SJS 50 0.69 1.15 -0.24 1.46 2.90 1.15 -
2022-23 SJS 82 2.04 1.73 -1.76 2.32 2.47 -0.95 -
2023-24 PIT 82 1.76 1.35 -2.00 1.30 1.71 -0.21 -
2024-25 PIT 82 1.16 0.82 -1.02 0.34 1.41 1.16 -
2025-26 PIT 75 0.29 1.57 0.19 1.12 1.14 -0.58 -

About Archetypes

Player archetypes are a look at a players strengths and weaknesses in his game when compared to other players around the leeague. Except for Faceoffs, the values shown are the players z-score (standard deviation from the mean) for the specific metric used to calculate the archetype values. When calculating z-scores forwards were compared to forwards and defensemen were compared to defensemen. Positive values indicate the player is above average and shaded in blue, while negative values indicate the player is below average and shaded in pink. The five year trend charts show a range of -4.0 to 4.0.

The value shown for Faceoffs is the faceoff winning percentage rather than their z-score with winning percentages below 50 in pink shades and above 50 in blue shades.

All archetypes are 5v5 except 5v4 TOI, 4v5 TOI and Faceoffs (all situations). Archetypes use regular season data only.

Archetypes Summary
  • Producer - Measures a players ability to produce goals and assists, adjusted for quality of teammates.
  • Playmaker - Measures whether a players points come from passes.
  • Shooter - Measures whether a players points come from shots (goals or assists on rebounds from his shots).
  • Sniper - Measures the to score above the expected goal rate.
  • Rebound - Measures the percent of a players shot attempts that come from rebounds (forwards only).
  • Rush - Measures the percent of a players shot attempts that come from rush plays
  • Skating - An indicator of a players skating ability, or speed bursts above 20mph per mile skated.
  • Defend - An indicator of a players ability to suppress shot quality against.
  • 5v5 TOI - The percentage of his teams 5v5 TOI that the player was on the ice for.
  • 5v4 TOI - Powerplay ice time, calculated as the percentage of his teams 5v4 ice time that the player was on the ice for.
  • 4v5 TOI - Penalty Kill ice time, calculated as the percentage of his teams 4v5 ice time that the player was on the ice for.
  • Possession - An indicator of a players ability to improve his teams puck possession game.
  • Drive - Measures a players ability to drive puck possession and generate shot attempts for his team.
  • Suppress - Measures a players ability to suppress opponent puck possession and shot attempts against.
  • Faceoffs - Faceoff Winning Percentage (min. 75 faceoffs taken).

Read Introducing Player Archetypes on HockeyAnalysis.com for more details on archetype calculations.

Data Sources

5v5 Individual Stats

Season Team(s) GP TOI G/60 A/60 Pts/60 xG/60 GAE/60 Sh% xSh% Sh%AE %SA Rush %SA Reb.
2015-16 OTT 82 1708:15 0.46 1.05 1.51 0.26 0.20 7.83 4.43 3.40 1.58 1.98
2016-17 OTT 77 1480:15 0.45 0.97 1.42 0.25 0.19 7.69 4.35 3.34 1.35 2.70
2017-18 OTT 71 1423:05 0.17 1.31 1.48 0.23 -0.06 2.90 3.97 -1.07 2.39 0.96
2018-19 SJS 53 950:08 0.06 1.39 1.45 0.28 -0.22 0.80 3.56 -2.76 1.60 0.53
2019-20 SJS 56 960:10 0.25 1.25 1.50 0.19 0.06 4.82 3.66 1.16 1.79 2.68
2020-21 SJS 52 930:13 0.19 0.45 0.64 0.25 -0.06 3.95 5.11 -1.16 0.89 2.68
2021-22 SJS 50 878:58 0.48 0.89 1.37 0.30 0.18 8.33 5.28 3.05 2.42 2.42
2022-23 SJS 82 1647:34 0.58 1.71 2.29 0.30 0.29 10.60 5.38 5.22 0.00 3.94
2023-24 PIT 82 1582:52 0.23 0.83 1.06 0.24 -0.01 3.82 3.99 -0.17 0.45 2.68
2024-25 PIT 82 1523:28 0.24 0.98 1.22 0.26 -0.02 4.35 4.79 -0.45 0.46 3.23
2025-26 PIT 75 1260:32 0.48 1.05 1.52 0.32 0.16 8.85 5.86 2.99 0.00 2.14

5v5 On Ice Stats

Season Team(s) GP TOI SAF/60 GF/60 xGF/60 SAA/60 GA/60 xGA/60 GF% xGF% xGF Rel xGA Rel xGF% Rel
2015-16 OTT 82 1708:15 41.38 2.60 2.22 40.78 2.70 2.30 49.01 49.18 0.37 -0.03 4.94
2016-17 OTT 77 1480:15 42.97 2.43 2.28 42.11 2.19 2.20 52.63 50.88 0.40 0.03 4.46
2017-18 OTT 71 1423:05 43.68 2.53 2.18 42.92 3.42 2.37 42.55 47.84 0.21 -0.16 4.11
2018-19 SJS 53 950:08 52.79 3.41 3.26 36.18 2.72 2.23 55.67 59.33 0.75 -0.14 8.02
2019-20 SJS 56 960:10 42.81 2.56 2.61 38.06 2.69 2.54 48.81 50.70 0.34 0.13 2.16
2020-21 SJS 52 930:13 40.89 2.26 2.50 45.34 3.03 2.98 42.68 45.67 0.06 0.63 -5.35
2021-22 SJS 50 878:58 45.74 2.53 2.79 44.58 2.53 2.72 50.00 50.65 0.66 0.33 3.50
2022-23 SJS 82 1647:34 46.03 3.46 3.07 41.48 3.42 2.80 50.26 52.26 0.66 0.04 5.78
2023-24 PIT 82 1582:52 48.97 2.73 3.02 43.52 2.62 2.56 51.06 54.11 0.54 -0.06 5.54
2024-25 PIT 82 1523:28 45.02 2.91 2.75 44.54 3.15 2.83 48.05 49.25 0.47 0.44 0.52
2025-26 PIT 75 1260:32 44.36 3.47 2.91 39.03 2.52 2.63 57.94 52.59 0.19 0.08 0.92

NHL Edge Stats

Skating Shooting Zone Time
Season GP Top Speed Bursts>20/mi Avg. Speed ES Avg. Speed Top Speed Avg. Speed %Long Range %Mid Range %High Danger ES DZ% ES NZ% ES OZ%
This table is for Basic and Premium subscribers only. To view please login to and/or subscribe to one of our subscription plans.

Legend

Percentile 0-25 Percentile 25-50 Percentile 50-75 Percentile 75-100
Forwards are compared with forwards and Defensemen are are compared with Defensemen.

5v5 Defense Pairs

Season
Season Teammate Team TOI GF/60 GA/60 GF% xGF/60 xGA/60 xGF% xGF Rel xGA Rel xGF% Rel
This table is for Basic and Premium subscribers only. To view please login to and/or subscribe to one of our subscription plans. 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 2026-27 2027-28 2028-29 2030-31 2031-32 2032-33 2033-34 2034-35

Glossary

Type Statistic Definition
IndividualG/60Goals Against per 60 minutes.
IndividualA/60Assists per 60 minutes.
IndividualPts/60Points per 60 minutes.
IndividualxG/60Expected Goals per 60 minutes.
IndividualGAE/60Goals Above Expected (G/60 - xG/60).
IndividualSh%Shooting Percentage.
IndividualxSh%Expected Shooting Percentage.
IndividualSh%AEShooting percentage above expected (Sh% - xSh%).
Individual%SA RushPercentage of shot attempts determined to be on the rush.
Individual%SA Reb.Percentage of shot attempts determined to be from rebounds.
On IceSAF/60Shot Attempts For per 60 minutes.
On IceGF/60Goals For per 60 minutes.
On IcexGF/60Expected Goals For per 60 minutes.
On IceSAA/60Shot Attempts Against per 60 minutes (lower is better).
On IceGA/60Goals Against per 60 minutes (lower is better).
On IcexGA/60Expected Goals Against per 60 minutes (lower is better).
On IceGF%Goals For Percentage = Goals For / (Goals For + Goals Against)
On IcexGF%Expected Goals For Percentage = Expected Goals For / (Expected Goals For + Expected Goals Against)
On IcexGF RelxGF/60 when On Ice - xGF/60 when not On Ice.
On IcexGA RelxGA/60 when On Ice - xGA/60 when not On Ice (lower is better).
On IcexGF% RelxGF% when On Ice - xGF% when not On Ice.
Individual and On-Ice stats from Puckalytics.com (starting in 2015-16). NHL Edge Stats from edge.nhl.com (starting in 2021-22). Edge statistic definitions can be found at the Edge Stats Glossary.

News and Opinions

Current Contract

Erik Karlsson signed an $92,000,000 8-year contract with the San Jose Sharks and General Manager Doug Wilson on June 17, 2019 with an AAV of $11,500,000. This contract will start in 2019-20 and end after the 2026-27 season. In the first season of the contract the cap hit was equivalent to 14.11% of the salary cap.

Standard Contract (UFA) ( )  (0 ratings)

Season Age* Clause Cap Hit AAV Perf. Bonus Sign. Bonus Salary Compensation Minors Salary Status
2019-20 29 NMC $11,500,000 $11,500,000 - $11,000,000 $3,500,000 $14,500,000 $14,500,000 UFA
2020-21 30 NMC $11,500,000 $11,500,000 - $10,000,000 $2,000,000 $12,000,000 $12,000,000 UFA
2021-22 31 NMC $11,500,000 $11,500,000 - $9,000,000 $5,500,000 $14,500,000 $14,500,000 UFA
2022-23 32 NMC $11,500,000 $11,500,000 - $10,000,000 $2,000,000 $12,000,000 $12,000,000 UFA
2023-24 33 NMC $11,500,000 $11,500,000 - $1,000,000 $10,500,000 $11,500,000 $11,500,000 UFA
2024-25 34 NMC $11,500,000 $11,500,000 - $1,000,000 $10,000,000 $11,000,000 $11,000,000 UFA
2025-26 35 NMC $11,500,000 $11,500,000 - $5,000,000 $4,000,000 $9,000,000 $9,000,000 UFA
2026-27 36 NMC $11,500,000 $11,500,000 - $6,000,000 $1,500,000 $7,500,000 $7,500,000 UFA
Total - $53,000,000 $39,000,000 $92,000,000 $92,000,000
Signed: June 17, 2019
Team: San Jose Sharks
GM: Doug Wilson
Exp. Status: UFA
Cap %: 14.11
Retained Salary: San Jose Sharks retained 13.0% of total salary on August 6, 2023

Previous Contracts (show) (hide)

Erik Karlsson signed a $45,500,000 7-year contract with the Ottawa Senators and General Manager Bryan Murray on June 19, 2012 with an AAV of $6,500,000. This contract will start in 2012-13 and end after the 2018-19 season. In the first season of the contract the cap hit was equivalent to 10.83% of the salary cap.

Standard Contract (RFA) ( )  (0 ratings)

Season Age* Clause Cap Hit AAV Perf. Bonus Sign. Bonus Salary Compensation Minors Salary Status
2012-13 22 $6,500,000 $6,500,000 - $1,000,000 $4,000,000 $5,000,000 $5,000,000 RFA
2013-14 23 $6,500,000 $6,500,000 - - $5,500,000 $5,500,000 $5,500,000 RFA
2014-15 24 $6,500,000 $6,500,000 - - $6,500,000 $6,500,000 $6,500,000 RFA-arb
2015-16 25 $6,500,000 $6,500,000 - - $7,000,000 $7,000,000 $7,000,000 RFA-arb
2016-17 26 $6,500,000 $6,500,000 - - $7,000,000 $7,000,000 $7,000,000 RFA-arb
2017-18 27 M-NTC $6,500,000 $6,500,000 - - $7,000,000 $7,000,000 $7,000,000 UFA
2018-19 28 M-NTC $6,500,000 $6,500,000 - - $7,500,000 $7,500,000 $7,500,000 UFA
Total - $1,000,000 $44,500,000 $45,500,000 $45,500,000
Signed: June 19, 2012
Team: Ottawa Senators
GM: Bryan Murray
Exp. Status: UFA
Cap %: 10.83
Clause: In 2017-18 and 2018-19 player has a 10 team no trade list.

Erik Karlsson signed a $2,625,000 3-year contract with the Ottawa Senators and General Manager Bryan Murray on May 7, 2009 with an AAV of $875,000. This contract will start in 2009-10 and end after the 2011-12 season. In the first season of the contract the cap hit was equivalent to 1.54% of the salary cap.

Entry Level Contract ( )  (0 ratings)

Season Age* Clause Cap Hit AAV Perf. Bonus Sign. Bonus Salary Compensation Minors Salary Status
2009-10 19 $875,000 $1,300,000 $425,000 $87,500 $787,500 $875,000 $65,000 ELC
2010-11 20 $875,000 $1,300,000 $425,000 $87,500 $787,500 $875,000 $65,000 ELC
2011-12 21 $875,000 $1,300,000 $425,000 $87,500 $787,500 $875,000 $65,000 ELC
Total $1,275,000 $262,500 $2,362,500 $2,625,000 $195,000
Signed: May 7, 2009
Team: Ottawa Senators
GM: Bryan Murray
Exp. Status: RFA

Career Statistics

Regular Season Playoffs
Season League Team GP G A Pts +/- PIM Shots Sh% TOI/G GP G A Pts +/- PIM Shots Sh% TOI/G
2005-06 J20 Div.2 Boro/Vetlanda J20 4 1 5 6 18
2006-07 Swe-Jr. Sodertalje Jr. 10 2 8 10 8
2006-07 Swe-U18 Sodertalje U18 2 0 1 1 33
2007-08 Sweden Frolunda 7 1 0 1 6
2007-08 Swe-Jr. Frolunda Jr. 38 13 24 37 68 5 1 1 4 0.0
2007-08 Swe-U18 Frolunda U18 3 1 2 3 2 2 1 1 10 0.0
2008-09 Sweden-2 Boras 7 0 1 1 14
2008-09 WJC-A Sweden 6 2 7 9
2008-09 Swe-Jr. Frolunda Jr. 1 0 2 2 2
2008-09 Sweden Frolunda 45 5 5 10 10 11 1 2 3 24
2009-10 AHL Binghamton 12 0 11 11 22
2009-10 WC-A Sweden 9 1 3 4 2
2009-10 NHL Ottawa Senators 60 5 21 26 -5 24 112 4.5 20:07 6 1 5 6 -4 4 12 8.3 25:52
2010-11 NHL Ottawa Senators 75 13 32 45 -30 50 182 7.1 23:31
2011-12 WC-A Sweden 8 3 4 7 +3 2
2011-12 NHL Ottawa Senators 81 19 59 78 +16 42 261 7.3 25:19 7 1 1 4 31 3.2 25:22
2012-13 Finland Jokerit 30 9 25 34 +12 24
2012-13 NHL Ottawa Senators 17 6 8 14 +8 8 79 7.6 27:09 10 1 7 8 6 28 3.6 26:44
2013-14 NHL Ottawa Senators 82 20 54 74 -15 36 257 7.8 27:04
2013-14 Olympics Sweden 6 4 4 8 +5 20
2014-15 NHL Ottawa Senators 82 21 45 66 +7 42 292 7.2 27:15 6 1 3 4 -2 2 17 5.9 28:58
2015-16 NHL Ottawa Senators 82 16 66 82 -2 50 248 6.4 28:58
2016-17 WCup Sweden 4 1 3 4 +2 2
2016-17 NHL Ottawa Senators 77 17 54 71 +10 28 218 7.8 26:50 19 2 16 18 +13 10 53 3.8 28:08
2017-18 NHL Ottawa Senators 71 9 53 62 -25 36 196 4.6 26:44
2018-19 NHL San Jose Sharks 53 3 42 45 +6 22 169 1.8 24:29 19 2 14 16 -3 8 51 3.9 24:45
2019-20 NHL San Jose Sharks 56 6 34 40 -15 16 120 5.0 24:31
2020-21 NHL San Jose Sharks 52 8 14 22 -18 18 110 7.3 23:36
2021-22 NHL San Jose Sharks 50 10 25 35 -14 14 117 8.5 23:28
2022-23 NHL San Jose Sharks 82 25 76 101 -26 36 209 12.0 25:37
2023-24 NHL Pittsburgh Penguins 82 11 45 56 +4 44 213 5.2 24:16
2024-25 NHL Pittsburgh Penguins 82 11 42 53 -24 20 191 5.8 23:14
2024-25 4 Nations Sweden 3 1 2 3 +2 2 5 20.0 18:08
2025-26 OG Sweden 5 0 4 4 +1 16 0.0 21:06
2025-26 NHL Pittsburgh Penguins 75 15 51 66 +8 22 176 8.5 23:36 6 1 2 3 -4 10 13 7.7 28:37
NHL Career 1159 215 721 936 -115 508 3150 6.8 25:07 73 9 47 56 44 205 4.4 26:43