Observations:

November 2015 – After signing a two-year 3.3 million dollar contract this offseason, Karlsson was forced to watch from the sidelines as an off-season injury kept him from training camp and subsequently forced him to start the year down in the AHL. Karlsson was re-called November 5^th and has been placed in a familiar spot alongside Jumbo and Little Joe. He's taken full advantage of the opportunity, producing four points in seven games to go along with a plus-six rating. Karlsson is seeing time on the second power play unit and scored the OT winner against the Flyers on November 19. –Cam Robinson

February 2015  – The late-blooming Swede was signed by the Sharks in May of 2014 after the World Championship thanks to his strong two-way game and noticeable work ethic. He only got into three games during those Worlds before the influx of NHLers arrived and was held pointless. In Sweden, with Skelleftea, Karlsson was a secondary scorer, a penalty killer and a solid faceoff guy.  Upon arriving in the AHL for his first season of North American hockey, Karlsson showed that he was NHL-ready not with his offense, but with his disciplined play. He could hold his own on the second, third or fourth lines and showed tenacity when it came to driving the net. The big club recalled him and December and have been unable to return him to Worcester because he so clearly belongs. His quick start in the NHL (six goals in 14 games) is just the adrenalin – he's not a potential 30-goal scorer by any stretch. But his hustle and reliability could see him score 20 with the right linemates. Dobber

Fantasy Outlook: C+

He's NHL-ready right now, but is at best a complimentary second-line player with a potential for lots of faceoff wins if he can be leaned on to play center. Likely a third-line checker, 15+ goals.

Footage:

Melker Karlsson's first NHL goal:

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