ANAHEIM, Calif. — To no avail, the Ducks had the highest odds of winning the 2023 draft lottery and selecting sensational Canadian center Connor Bedard after finishing the season with the worst record in the NHL. Instead, Anaheim selected breakout Swedish center Leo Carlsson with the No. 2 pick, who has shown signs of stardom.
Unlike some other top-five selections in 2023 like center Will Smith or defenseman David Reinbacher, Carlsson was immediately NHL-ready. He scored in his NHL debut in just the Ducks’ third regular season game, posting two shots while also achieving a plus-two rating. Since his entrance to the league, Carlsson has displayed flashes of his offensive prowess despite dealing with injuries and scratches that have kept him sidelined for a number of games.
The Swede has tallied 24 points through 44 games, placing him 13th on the rookie ladder, two spots behind Anaheim’s highly touted defenseman Pavel Mintyukov. His raw stats are admittedly nowhere near worthy of the Calder Memorial Trophy, but playing in fewer games than other rookies due to nagging injuries and a development plan have inhibited his potential. Minnesota’s star blueliner Brock Faber, for context, is second among newcomers with 40 points in 71 games, averaging 0.56 points per game; Carlsson, while tallying fewer total points, averages a competitive 0.55 per outing.
Before making his way to Orange County, Carlsson played two seasons in the Swedish Hockey League, where he caught draft scouts’ eyes. Last season with Orebro HK, he posted near-identical numbers to this year’s campaign, with 25 points in 44 games. But the playoffs were where he really shined. Carlsson tallied an impressive 9 points in 13 games during Orebro’s run through the postseason.
He also ranked third on Team Sweden with six points in seven games during the 2023 World Juniors and even occasionally manned the top line.
Carlsson uses his 6-foot-3, 194-pound frame to physically dominate weaker defenders and create offensive chances. With precise vision and soft hands, the 19-year-old is a pure playmaker; he efficiently tatters defenses and punishes weaker opponents with his strength to find open lanes in the offensive zone.
Carlsson isn’t afraid to forecheck and can act as a two-way enforcer when needed. He’s confident, stout and intelligent with the puck and can be a threat from anywhere on the ice. He uses his quickness and puck-hungry mindset to battle on the boards for chances. When he’s not handling the puck, he’s finding ways to create space and make himself available to receive a pass.
His stickhandling and evasiveness have translated to the NHL and while his point production has cooled slightly since his electric entrance, he still plays with a savviness years ahead of other skaters his age. Among Carlsson’s brightest flashes this season was a hat-trick against the Philadelphia Flyers on Nov. 10 and clear comfortability playing on the top lines in a number of games.
FIRST CAREER HAT TRICK FOR LEO CARLSSON! 🧢 pic.twitter.com/nVgxNooaYX
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 11, 2023
Since going from the SHL to the NHL right away can be a stark adjustment, Carlsson has been a healthy scratch from time to time, but not because of subpar play—just as a developmental tool. The Ducks know that Carlsson is going to be a cornerstone piece of the team for years to come, so allowing him to see ice time in moderation amid a period where he could still be physically growing will allow him to develop at a natural rate.
His cautious developmental plan unfortunately hasn’t prevented him from facing injuries this season. March has been a rough month for the young forward; he’s suffered upper-body wounds, a concussion and a knee injury, but hopes to finish the season’s final stretch healthy.
Fortunately, his development track hasn’t limited his leadership capacity, as he’s seen lengthy ice time and offensive confidence in the middle when available while working simultaneously to build toward the future. On a team with a stacked prospect pipeline, Carlsson will not be expected to be a depth piece on the future core, but rather a superstar commander of the top lines.
Carlsson will only continue to enhance his mechanics and physical ability in future seasons. This upcoming offseason will not only offer him a needed rest period, but also a time to get stronger and brace himself for a bigger role next season. Bedard and Faber might be headlining this season’s rookie class, but Anaheim’s general manager Pat Verbeek and Carlsson know that with time, the Swedish standout will break out and be a franchise catalyst well worth the No. 2 pick.