Canucks’ Linus Karlsson hopes to end season on high note with Swedish national team
This article originally appeared on hockeysverige.se and has been translated from Swedish to English.
As Sweden prepares for the IIHF Men’s World Championship in Switzerland next week, more and more NHL players are joining the team to get into gear after missing the Stanley Cup playoffs.
One of those players is Vancouver Canucks forward Linus Karlsson. For him, it marks his first appearance for Tre Kronor since his breakout season in the SHL 2021-22.
“It’s incredibly fun — representing your country is something you’re very proud of. It’s great to be here,” Karlsson said. “There really wasn’t much to think about. I didn’t have anything special going on anyway, so it’s perfect to come here, play some games, and get into a rhythm. I’d rather be here now — on the ice, competing, playing games — and stay active. That way, I avoid taking a two- or three-week break and then being thrown straight into intense competition. This way I ease into it early, and it’s great to play some games here.”
Getting rest after a long season wasn’t necessary, according to Karlsson.
“I still had ten days from my last game over there to the first practice here. In ten days, you can recover quite a bit. That’s more than enough.”
It’s been a season of mixed emotions for Karlsson. He earned a regular spot with the Vancouver Canucks and impressed with 15 goals and 35 points in 79 games in his first full NHL season. That placed him fifth on the team in both goals and total points.
He was also among the NHL’s most efficient scorers relative to ice time, averaging just 12:31 per game while still producing at a high level.
At the same time, the Canucks endured a nightmare season, winning just 25 of 82 games and finishing last in the league with 58 points.
“It’s been a tough season for the team, but individually it’s gone very well. My goal was to make the team and earn a spot, and I think I did that. I was scratched the first three games, but after that I played the rest. I’m very proud of how I handled the challenge and proved that I can play in the NHL.”
Trying to balance personal success with the struggles of the team can be a tricky thing.
“It’s a bit of both. Of course, there are things I can improve — that’s something to work on this summer,” Karlsson said. “At the same time, it’s tough losing games. But you can’t bring yourself down just because the team is losing and lose all your confidence. You have to see the positives too.
“I think I’ve had a very good season overall. I’m happy with how I performed throughout the year. I didn’t have any major slumps — I maintained a consistently high level. I choose to stay positive, and I’m quite satisfied with my season.”
Karlsson moved to North America in 2022 and had several strong seasons in the AHL with the Abbotsford Canucks, where he consistently produced offensively.
He made his NHL debut in 2023-24 (four games) and followed it up with 23 NHL games and six points the following season. That same season, he helped Abbotsford win the Calder Cup, dominating the playoffs with 14 goals and 26 points in 24 games — leading both the goal-scoring and points race.
That success carried into this season, where he secured a full-time NHL role – and things just clicked.
“I think it started last summer when we won the Calder Cup. That was an amazing experience — it’s very hard to win, and not everyone gets that opportunity.
“I gained a lot of confidence from that and came into this season in a good place. I also got a real chance from the club and was put in good positions when I started playing. Confidence is a big part of it, and I kept building that throughout the season.
“It grows when you play well, and then I signed a new contract, which also gave me a boost. It’s also about getting used to the game over there — it’s a bit different. The more games you play, the more comfortable you get and the better you understand what to do on the ice.”
The new contract was a nice reward for Karlsson. Shortly after New Year’s, he signed a two-year deal with Vancouver worth $2.25 million per season. That was when he fully realized he had made the NHL for real.
“Yes, absolutely. With the new contract and everything, the plan is definitely for me to play in the NHL. But I don’t take anything for granted — I still need to work hard and prove I deserve my spot. I also want to climb the lineup, play more minutes, and contribute in more situations. That’s the next goal. I’m not satisfied yet — not at all — but it’s a great start to my NHL career.”
Getting the contract done quite early was a relief that made him even more comfortable in his role with the Canucks.
“It’s definitely been very nice to get it done and signed. You do start thinking about it when you’re in a contract year, but I still think I managed to stay focused throughout the season. I just took it day by day and did my best. In the end, it paid off with a contract I’m very happy with. It’s a great feeling — something I’ve worked very hard for.”
After basically playing on two-way deals with minimum salary for the first few years, Karlsson was blown away by his new salary.
“I don’t think it’s fully sunk in yet. It’s a lot of money. I haven’t really thought about it too much. Money isn’t everything, but of course it’s nice and provides security after spending years working your way up in the AHL. It’s a very good feeling.”
At 26, Karlsson has now established himself as an NHL regular — and he reflected on the journey that got him there.
“I’ve been over there for four years now — three years mostly in the AHL with just a little NHL time before this season. It’s been a lot of hard work, and I’m very proud of that. It’s been a long journey with many, many hours behind it.
“Especially mentally — it takes a toll being sent up and down all the time. I’m very, very proud of the journey I’ve made and that I’ve reached where I am today.”
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