Six years ago, William Karlsson was selected by the fledgling Vegas Golden Knights.
Last night he got to celebrate the biggest triumph of his career.
Vegas became Stanley Cup champions for the first time – and “Wild Bill” is hugely praised after a genius pass in the decision, to say the least.
The Vegas Golden Knights have been one big success train since entering the NHL. It was in 2017 that they were allowed to enter the league, and already in their first season they reached the Stanley Cup final. Swede William Karlsson was a bit of a mystery when he was selected in the expansion draft before the team’s entry into the league, but it is different now.
Finally a champion
William Karlsson has grown into a key player, and an important cog in the Vegas Golden Knights, who during their six seasons in the league have become a pure success dynasty. During this year’s season, they invested heavily, with several star acquisitions, and tonight the reward came. They were 3-1 in games before Tuesday’s battle against the Florida Panthers, and when before the start of the game it was also announced that Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk, perhaps the best player of the playoffs, will miss the game, well, then it was pretty much already done.
However, Vegas started the game shakily, but goaltender Adin Hill, picked up by the San Jose Sharks before the season, stepped up with a couple of magical saves. And that was the turning point. The steam engine that is Vegas started drumming, and then it went fast. Vegas scored both 1-0 and 2-0, and after a reduction from Florida, there was no talk of the matter. Vegas completely washed over their opponents, and at 3-1, William Karlsson stepped forward and showed what an incredible player he is.
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The magic fit
William Karlsson got the puck in front of the goal, but without any seemingly possible opportunity to make anything of it. But like a magician, William Karlsson saw something behind him, and the pass between the legs, straight back, gave teammate Reilly Smith a wide open goal. After two periods, the score was 6-1 to Vegas, and then of course it was already over.
William Karlsson was the 43rd Swede in history to lift the Stanley Cup trophy, and now a big celebration in Las Vegas has begun. Jonathan Marchessault, who was also picked in the expansion draft six years ago, became the winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy, the award for the most valuable player of the playoffs, after 25 points in 22 games played.
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