Canucks sign Linus Karlsson to two-year extension

The Vancouver Canucks announced on Friday that they signed forward Linus Karlsson to a two-year contract extension with a $2.25 million cap hit.

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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.

12:03 AM · Jan 3, 2026

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Karlsson is currently signed to a one-year, $775,000 contract, and was set to become a Group 6 unrestricted free agent. The deal does not have any confirmed signing or performance bonuses or any no-trade or no-move clauses. He will make $2.5 million in salary in the first season of the contract, and $2 million in the second year.

“Linus has taken a number of big steps since joining our organization,” said Allvin in a statement about the extension released by the Canucks. “He has worked hard on his game, and we have been impressed with his development both on and off the ice. A leader last year for our Calder Cup Championship team in Abbotsford, Linus used that momentum and experience to solidify a position this year in Vancouver. We look forward to helping him continue to grow moving forward.”

This contract marks the first time in Karlsson’s career that he’ll make a seven-figure salary, with his previous highest cap hit being $883,750. He’ll be locked up until his age-28 season at 2.17% of next year’s salary cap. His closest cap hit comparables will be New York Islanders forward Maxim Tsyplakov, who will be in the second year of his two-year contract with the same cap hit.

Karlsson is in his first season as a regular at the NHL level with nine goals and seven assists for 16 points in 36 games. Those totals are already well past his previous career-high of six points in 2024-25.

With this extension done, the Canucks will have close to $16.75 million in salary cap space this summer, with eight UFAs and seven restricted free agents left to sign, highlighted by Kiefer Sherwood, Evander Kane and Teddy Blueger.