Meet William Karlsson / Trade Deadline thoughts

“welcome to a rare non week in review post. For the first time since the Nash deal, the Jackets added a prospect through a trade that I think you need to know about. Meet William “Wild Bill” Karlsson of Märsta, Sweden. Karlsson joins the Jackets along with a second round pick and Rene Bourque from the trade that sent a third round pick and James Wisniewski to Anaheim (yes, I put the draft picks first – would you expect anything less from me?).

Karlsson was Anaheim’s third pick in the 2011 entry draft, selected 53rd overall. In the final draft rankings William was the 21st rated European prospect. Hockey News Future Watch editor Brian Costello tweeted that William was going to be the Ducks third best prospect. It’s also worth noting the Ducks earned the second best organizational grade in the magazine.

William was a teammate of Jackets prospects (at the time) Alexander Wennberg and Oscar Dansk on Sweden’s 2013 silver medal winning team and he was a membe of Sweden’s gold medal team in 2012. In Sweden, while playing for HV71, he was named the 2013 Rookie of the Year and collected 28 points in 50 games backing it up with a 37 point season before joining Anaheim’s AHL affiliate Norfolk last season where he collected nine points in nine games to close out the regular season. William has played 18 games in the NHL this season and has scored 3 points (2-1-3) in 18 games along with the 21 points in 35 games he’s earned with Norfolk. Now, as I like to do, I asked for the opinion of people who have seen him play before. First, I turn things over to the editor in chief of hockeysverige.se, Mr. Uffe Bodin:

“William Karlsson is a highly intelligent two-way pivot who is a really great passer. He was more or less a dominant force in his last season with HV71 in the SHL, performing admirably on a very poor team. He has still got some growing to do to be able to handle the every day NHL grind, but I see a lot of upside in him due to his smartness on the ice. You could probably say that he is your prototypical Swedish centerman. Safe, sound and with a very good hockey mind. Played together with Alexander Wennberg at the U20 WJC in Ufa 2013, where Sweden captured the silver. Was also a part of the Swedish WJC team that captured gold in Calgary the year before that. Has become somewhat of a legend among fans in his former team in Sweden due to his personality and fun loving nature.”

Now for more of a scouting report on William I’ll turn things over to Patrik Hansen

Skating:

“William is a really good skater in all directions. Quick feet makes him able to twist and turn in (the) o-zone and to keep up with his opponents in d-zone. Nice first few strides and good acceleration. William’s only downside when it comes to skating is that he’s sometime a little to easy to knock off the puck and lose balance. 

Puck skills/Offensive:

“A playmaker. Sets up his teammates more often than taking shot by his own, yet his shooting is something he needs to work on. Good puck transportation through all three zones thanks to his good speed and very careful with his plays. (Doesn’t) just throw away the puck and hope for the best. Good vision, can run a PP. Wants to play the game in the right direction. Nice passing skills, both giving and receiving. Good in the circle (51.30% last season). 

Physic/Attitude/Defensive:

“Great attitude. He will play the whole shift and he wont cheat when it comes to backcheck/forecheck. Nice discipline, wont take any unnecessary minors. Not the guy that throws the big hit but he’s not afraid of going into battles along the boards. Shown some leadership by taking charge of the game last year, wanted to be our go-to-guy and help the team in all situations. Good positioning in d-zone, reads the opponents and possesses a good attitude to the work on defence. 

Upside:

“A really good two-way center with an offensive upside. Pretty sure he will put it all together and become at least a 3C, maybe even 2C. Especially if he can develop his finishing. Possesses all the tools/mindset, I think it’s just a matter of time and that he needs to adapt to a new system and type of hockey.”

William is off to Springfield where he will probably go into the Falcons’ top six playing in all situations.

Ok, now for an thought. The Wiz trade may have helped the CBJ get Mike Reilly into the fold instead of leaving the organization as unrestricted free agent.

Reilly clearly has Columbus’ attention. Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen mentioned him in his trade deadline press conference citing the long term plans for defense. “Mike Reilly is having a great year in Minnesota,” Kekalainen said. “He’s a prospect we believe in that can step into some big shoes with our organization and we look forward to getting him signed.”

You’re probably saying wait “unrestricted free agent?” I’ll try and keep this brief – here’s how Mike would become a UFA straight from the CBA:

“If a Player drafted at age 18 or 19, who had received a Bona Fide Offer in accordance with Section 8.6(a)(ii) above, becomes a bona fide college student prior to the second June 1 following his selection in the Entry Draft and does not remain a bona fide college student through the graduation of his college class, his drafting Club shall retain exclusive rights for the negotiation of his services until the later of: (a) the fourth June 1 following his selection in the Entry Draft, or (b) thirty (30) days after NHL Central Registry receives notice that the Player is no longer a bona fide college student; provided that if the Player ceases to be a bona fide college student on or after January 1 of an academic year and the Player: (1) is in his fourth year of college and has commenced his fourth year of NCAA eligibility, or (2) is in his fourth year of college and is scheduled to graduate from college at the end of his fourth year, then in the circumstances described in (1) or (2), the Club shall retain the exclusive right of negotiation for such Player’s services through and including the August 15 following the date on which he ceases to be a bona fide college student.”

Mike played a year in the BCHL and that’s how he falls under this rule. Why do i think Wiz being traded gets Mike in the fold? The most the CBJ can offer Mike is a 2-year deal worth $925,000 annually along with a $92,500 signing bonus and $2.85 million in performance bonuses (numbers based on what Justin Schultz got in this situation). That may be hard to reach as a D-man. The Jackets can throw an extra incentive Mike’s way by putting him in a game down the stretch which is common for NCAA players signed after the season (although this burns a year of the player’s ELC). Don’t read this and think I’m saying Mike is Wiz’a replacement – Wiz was the rare right-handed shot while Mike is the more common left handed shot. If you want a Wiz replacement, look instead to Blake Siebenaler but in two to three years.

There you have it folks – an introduction on the newest Jacket and some of my ramblings. I’ll be back with my usual week in review along with my State of the Prospect Pool post that usually goes up after The Hockey News’ Future Watch issue comes out.