SAN JOSE – Melker Karlsson was one of the few bright spots on the Sharks during the mess that was the 2014-15 season. In 53 games, he posted 13 goals and 11 assists in being named as the organization’s Rookie of the Year. He was rewarded with a two-year, $3.3 million contract in the offseason.
This season, though, the 25-year-old has been one of the rare disappointments. Karlsson never really took that next step in his development, perhaps hindered by a lower body injury that kept him out from training camp until early November, and posted just 19 points (10g, 9a) in 65 games.