Erik Karlsson

Pittsburgh Penguins, Defensemen
Age: 35y-9m-17d (May 30, 1990)
Exp: 15 Years
Country: SE
College: Frolunda
Drafted: Round 1 (#15 overall), 2008
Agent(s): Craig Oster (Newport Sports Management)
2025-26 Cap Hit

$11,500,000

2025-26 Cash

$9,000,000

Career Earnings

$131,429,878

2019-2026 Extension (CURRENT)

Erik Karlsson signed a 8 year, $92,000,000 contract with the San Jose Sharks, including $53,000,000 signing bonus, $92,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $11,500,000. In 2025-26, Karlsson will earn a base salary of $4,000,000 and a signing bonus of $5,000,000, while carrying a cap hit of $11,500,000.
Contract Terms:
8 yr(s) / $92,000,000
Average Salary:
$11,500,000
Signing Bonus:
$53,000,000
Free Agent:
2027 / UFA
BUYOUT CONTRACT
Year Age Cap HitAnnual Cap % League Cap Cash Annual Cash Cumulative
2019-20 29 $11,500,000 14.11% $14,500,000 $14,500,000
2020-21 30 $11,500,000 14.11% $12,000,000 $26,500,000
2021-22 31 $11,500,000 14.11% $14,500,000 $41,000,000
2022-23 32 $11,500,000 13.94% $12,000,000 $53,000,000
2023-24 33 $11,500,000 13.77% $11,500,000 $64,500,000
2024-25 34 $11,500,000 13.07% $11,000,000 $75,500,000
2025-26 35 $11,500,000 12.04% $9,000,000 $84,500,000
2026-27 36 $11,500,000 11.06% $7,500,000 $92,000,000
2027-28 37
UFA
Accrued Dead Cap
2023-24 33 $1,500,000 1.80% - -
2024-25 34 $1,500,000 1.70% - -
2025-26 35 $1,500,000 1.57% - -
2026-27 36 $1,500,000 1.44% - -
Year Age Base Salary Signing Proration Cap Hit Cap % League
2019-20 29 $3,500,000 $11,000,000 $11,500,000 14.11%
2020-21 30 $2,000,000 $10,000,000 $11,500,000 14.11%
2021-22 31 $5,500,000 $9,000,000 $11,500,000 14.11%
2022-23 32 $2,000,000 $10,000,000 $11,500,000 13.94%
2023-24 33 $10,500,000 $1,000,000 $11,500,000 13.77%
2024-25 34 $10,000,000 $1,000,000 $11,500,000 13.07%
2025-26 35 $4,000,000 $5,000,000 $11,500,000 12.04%
2026-27 36 $1,500,000 $6,000,000 $11,500,000 11.06%
2027-28 37
UFA
Accrued Dead Cap
2023-24 33 - - $1,500,000 1.80%
2024-25 34 - - $1,500,000 1.70%
2025-26 35 - - $1,500,000 1.57%
2026-27 36 - - $1,500,000 1.44%
Year Age Base Salary Signing Bonus Cash Total Cash Cumulative Cash Remaining AYC Cumulative AYC Remaining
2019-20 29 $3,500,000 $11,000,000 $14,500,000 $14,500,000 - $14,500,000 $11,500,000
2020-21 30 $2,000,000 $10,000,000 $12,000,000 $26,500,000 - $13,250,000 $11,071,429
2021-22 31 $5,500,000 $9,000,000 $14,500,000 $41,000,000 - $13,666,667 $10,916,667
2022-23 32 $2,000,000 $10,000,000 $12,000,000 $53,000,000 - $13,250,000 $10,200,000
2023-24 33 $10,500,000 $1,000,000 $11,500,000 $64,500,000 - $12,900,000 $9,750,000
2024-25 34 $10,000,000 $1,000,000 $11,000,000 $75,500,000 - $12,583,333 $9,166,667
2025-26 35 $4,000,000 $5,000,000 $9,000,000 $84,500,000 - $12,071,429 $8,250,000
2026-27 36 $1,500,000 $6,000,000 $7,500,000 $92,000,000 - $11,500,000 $7,500,000
Source: NHL contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.

2012-2018

Contract Terms:
7 yr(s) / $45,500,000
Average Salary:
$6,500,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Free Agent:
2019 / UFA
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2009-2011 Rookie

Contract Terms:
3 yr(s) / $3,900,000
Average Salary:
$1,300,000
Signing Bonus:
$262,500
Free Agent:
2012 / RFA
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Seasons

15 Years

Career Earnings thru 2025

$133,179,878

Earnings w/ Different Teams

3 teams

Earnings Per Year

Year Age Team(s) Status Cash Total Cash Cumulative Awards
2009 19
Active
$875,000
$875,000
2010 20
Active
Active
$875,000
$875,000
$1,750,000
$2,625,000
2011 21
Active
Active
$875,000
$875,000
$3,500,000
$4,375,000
2012 22
Active
$3,804,878
$8,179,878
2013 23
Active
$5,500,000
$13,679,878
2014 24
Active
$6,500,000
$20,179,878
2015 25
Active
$7,000,000
$27,179,878
2016 26
Active
$7,000,000
$34,179,878
2017 27
Active
$7,000,000
$41,179,878
2018 28
Active
$7,500,000
$48,679,878
2019 29
Injured
$14,500,000
$63,179,878
2020 30
Active
$12,000,000
$75,179,878
2021 31
Active
$14,500,000
$89,679,878
2022 32
Active
$12,000,000
$101,679,878
2023 33
Active
$11,500,000
$113,179,878
2024 34
Active
$11,000,000
$124,179,878
2025 35
Active
$9,000,000
$133,179,878
Total      
$133,179,878
$133,179,878
2026 36
Active
$7,500,000
Total
$140,679,878

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Incentives Cash Cumulative
9 $39,742,378 $1,437,500 - $41,179,878
5 $20,500,000 $40,000,000 - $60,500,000
3 $24,500,000 $7,000,000 - $31,500,000
Year Team(s) Age Base Signing Incentives Cash Total Cash Cumulative
2009
19
$787,500
$87,500
$875,000
$875,000
2010
20
$787,500
$787,500
$87,500
$87,500
$875,000
$875,000
$1,750,000
$2,625,000
2011
21
$787,500
$787,500
$87,500
$87,500
$875,000
$875,000
$3,500,000
$4,375,000
2012
22
$2,804,878
$1,000,000
$3,804,878
$8,179,878
2013
23
$5,500,000
$5,500,000
$13,679,878
2014
24
$6,500,000
$6,500,000
$20,179,878
2015
25
$7,000,000
$7,000,000
$27,179,878
2016
26
$7,000,000
$7,000,000
$34,179,878
2017
27
$7,000,000
$7,000,000
$41,179,878
2018
28
$7,500,000
$7,500,000
$48,679,878
2019
29
$3,500,000
$11,000,000
$14,500,000
$63,179,878
2020
30
$2,000,000
$10,000,000
$12,000,000
$75,179,878
2021
31
$5,500,000
$9,000,000
$14,500,000
$89,679,878
2022
32
$2,000,000
$10,000,000
$12,000,000
$101,679,878
2023
33
$10,500,000
$1,000,000
$11,500,000
$113,179,878
2024
34
$10,000,000
$1,000,000
$11,000,000
$124,179,878
2025
35
$4,000,000
$5,000,000
$9,000,000
$133,179,878
Total
$84,742,378
$48,437,500
$133,179,878
$133,179,878
2026
36
$1,500,000
$6,000,000
$7,500,000
Total
$86,242,378
$54,437,500
$140,679,878

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Incentives Cash Cumulative
9 $39,742,378 $1,437,500 - $41,179,878
5 $20,500,000 $40,000,000 - $60,500,000
3 $24,500,000 $7,000,000 - $31,500,000

Injuries

Year Dates Games Missed Reason
2025-26 PIT Jan 13, 2026 - Jan 22, 2026 0 Lower Body
2021-22 SJS Jan 25, 2022 - Mar 10, 2022 0 Arm
2021-22 SJS Nov 02, 2021 - Nov 12, 2021 0 COVID-19
2020-21 SJS Feb 18, 2021 - Feb 27, 2021 0 Lower Body
2019-20 SJS Feb 15, 2020 - TBD 0 Thumb
2017-18 OTT Oct 11, 2017 - Oct 16, 2017 0 Foot
  • Aug 06, 2023 Traded to Pittsburgh (PIT) from San Jose (SJS) as part of a 3-team trade: Pittsburgh (PIT) traded Jeff Petry, Casey DeSmith, Nathan Legare and 2025 2nd round pick to Montreal (MTL); Pittsburgh (PIT) traded 2024 1st round pick, Mikael Granlund and Jan Rutta to San Jose (SJS); Montreal (MTL) traded Rem Pitlick to Pittsburgh (PIT); Montreal (MTL) traded Mike Hoffman to San Jose (SJS); San Jose (SJS) traded Dillon Hamaliuk and 2026 3rd round pick to Pittsburgh (PIT)
  • Jun 17, 2019 Signed an 8 year $92 million contract extension with San Jose (SJS)
  • Dec 23, 2018 Suspended 2 games for an illegal Check to the head against Austin Wagner (LAK), forfeiting $69,892 in 2018-19 salary with San Jose (SJS)
  • Sep 13, 2018 Traded to San Jose (SJS) from Ottawa (OTT) with Francis Perron for 2020 1st round pick, Chris Tierney, Josh Norris, Rudolfs Balcers, Dylan Demelo and 2019 2nd round pick (#44)
  • Jun 19, 2012 Signed a 7 year $45.5 million contract with Ottawa (OTT)
  • May 07, 2009 Signed a 3 year $3.9 million contract with Ottawa (OTT)
  • Jun 20, 2008 Drafted by Ottawa (OTT): Round 1 (#15 overall)

Fines

Date Reason Fine Amount
Mar 04, 2012 Slashing Sean Bergernheim (FLA) $2,500
Fines: 1 $2,500

Suspensions

Date Reason Games Suspended Fine Amount
Dec 23, 2018 Check to the head against Austin Wagner (LAK) 2 $69,892
Suspensions: 1 $69,892
Year Team GP G MIN A PTS +/- SOG S% PPG PPA SHG SHA Blk Hit PIM
2024 PIT 82 11 1,905 42 0 -24 191 .058 2 13 0 0 94 29 20
2023 PIT 82 11 1,990 45 56 4 214 .051 2 15 0 0 99 38 44
2022 SJ 82 25 2,100 76 101 -26 209 .120 5 22 0 0 90 33 36
2021 SJ 50 10 1,173 25 35 -14 117 .085 0 10 0 0 45 18 14
2020 SJ 52 8 1,226 14 22 -18 110 .073 3 5 0 1 69 20 18
2019 SJ 56 6 1,373 34 40 -15 120 .050 1 12 1 0 74 26 16
2018 SJ 53 3 1,297 42 45 6 169 .018 2 18 0 0 69 43 22
2017 OTT 71 9 1,898 53 62 -25 196 .046 3 15 0 1 120 58 36
2016 OTT 77 17 2,066 54 71 10 218 .078 4 23 0 2 201 67 28
2015 OTT 82 16 2,375 66 82 -3 248 .065 1 25 0 0 175 84 50
2014 OTT 80 21 2,179 44 65 8 282 .074 6 24 0 0 84 93 42
2013 OTT 78 18 2,115 50 68 -17 247 .073 5 25 0 0 91 117 34
2012 OTT 17 6 461 8 14 8 79 .076 0 0 0 0 14 10 8
2011 OTT 73 18 0 53 71 17 235 .077 0 0 0 0 59 55 42
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