Erik Karlsson — Stats & Advanced Analytics
Erik Karlsson is an NHL defenseman for the Pittsburgh Penguins. In the 2025-26 season Erik Karlsson has 15 goals, 51 assists and 66 points in 75 games, worth 11.4 Goals Above Replacement.
Player Overview
Erik Karlsson remains one of the league's premier offensive defensemen, boasting a remarkable 17-season career with 1159 games played. His peak GAR of 20.9 in the 2022-23 season solidified his status as an elite, game-changing blueliner capable of driving offense from the back end.
Even at 36, Karlsson continues to produce at a high level, tallying 15 goals and 51 assists for 66 points in 75 games this season. His overall GAR of 10.7 indicates he is still a significant positive contributor, primarily driven by his exceptional even-strength offense, which accounts for +6.7 GAR.
Player Profile
| Position | Defenseman |
|---|---|
| Team | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| Shoots / Catches | R |
| Height | 6'0" |
| Weight | 185 lb |
| Draft | 2008 — Round 1, Pick 15 — OTT |
2025-26 Season Stats
| GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | Shots | S% | TOI/GP | CF% | xG | Game Score | GAR | WAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75 | 15 | 51 | 66 | +8 | 22 | 176 | 8.5% | 23:35 | 56.1% | 13.0 | 0.6 | 11.4 | 2.04 |
GAR Component Breakdown
| Even-Strength Offense | Even-Strength Defense | Power-Play Offense | Shorthanded Defense |
|---|---|---|---|
| +7.0 | -2.6 | +3.9 | +0.9 |
League percentile rank: points 92th, GAR 93th, WAR 93th (100th = league leader).
Career by Season (Regular Season)
| Season | GP | G | A | P | GAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 75 | 15 | 51 | 66 | 11.4 |
| 2024-25 | 82 | 11 | 42 | 53 | 5.6 |
| 2023-24 | 82 | 11 | 45 | 56 | 9.7 |
| 2022-23 | 82 | 25 | 76 | 101 | 27.0 |
| 2021-22 | 50 | 10 | 25 | 35 | 8.5 |
| 2020-21 | 52 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 1.6 |
| 2019-20 | 56 | 6 | 34 | 40 | 7.3 |
| 2018-19 | 53 | 3 | 42 | 45 | 11.5 |
| 2017-18 | 71 | 9 | 53 | 62 | 10.6 |
| 2016-17 | 77 | 17 | 54 | 71 | 14.6 |
| 2015-16 | 82 | 16 | 66 | 82 | 18.4 |
| 2014-15 | 82 | 21 | 45 | 66 | 17.1 |
| 2013-14 | 82 | 20 | 54 | 74 | 17.7 |
| 2012-13 | 17 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 3.9 |
Analysis
In the 2025-26 season Erik Karlsson has been worth 11.4 Goals Above Replacement, which ranks in the 93rd percentile leaguewide.
His value is driven primarily by even-strength offense (+7 GAR), while his even-strength defense grades below replacement (-2.6).
Across 14 tracked seasons his GAR peaked at 27.0 in 2022-23.
All figures are model outputs from Hockey Alchemy. Learn how the value metrics are built on the methodology page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Erik Karlsson's GAR this season?
Erik Karlsson has been worth 11.4 Goals Above Replacement (GAR) in the 2025-26 season, in the 93rd percentile of NHL players.
How many points does Erik Karlsson have this season?
Erik Karlsson has 15 goals and 51 assists for 66 points in 75 games this season.
Is Erik Karlsson a good defenseman?
Erik Karlsson ranks in the 93rd percentile among NHL skaters by GAR (11.4) in the 2025-26 season.