Leo Carlsson

June 2025 – It was a tale of two halves for Carlsson this season. The most notable issue was that his ice time was reduced from 18 to 16 minutes per game, a significant decrease that frustrated fans and fantasy managers alike. Good news for both: Cronin is out, and veteran Joel Quenneville is in, which should benefit both Carlsson and the team’s offensive structure. While Carlsson is still adjusting to the physical demands of the NHL, his willingness to engage has increased. He may never rack up big hit totals, but he should provide a respectable amount of peripheral hits as he matures. The traits that made Carlsson a top draft pick have translated well; he is an elite playmaker with exceptional vision and decision-making. The combination of Anaheim’s terrible power play, an overall anemic offense, and his reduced minutes led to lower-than-expected point totals. With a better structure and minutes, Carlsson should see a rise in production. After the Four Nations tournament, Carlsson came back as a new player. He posted 25 points in his final 28 games and played with noticeably more confidence. He began attacking the net more frequently and increasing his shot volume. If he continues developing a finisher’s instinct, especially near the net, 30+ goal seasons will become the norm—Carlsson projects as a fixture on the Ducks’ top line for years to come. With the combination of a new coaching staff and clear post-Four Nations growth, there’s cautious optimism that a breakout season could be right around the corner. – Markus R

March 2024 – Leo Carlsson has entered his first season in the NHL on a progressive workload system implemented by GM Pat Verbeek. The third overall pick continues to rely on his amazing playmaking ability at the NHL Level with nine goals and 14 assists in 40 games. As a young forward, consistency seems to be his Achilles’ Heel. The forward tends to have a good stretch of play for a few games, producing points, then seems to head towards a cold streak for an even longer stretch. Lots of work to do, but the Ducks have a gem. David Calabretta

June 2023 – Carlsson has been selected 2nd overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2023 NHL Draft. Curtis Rines

April 2023 – Leo Carlsson finished the season with one of the most impressive stat lines by a draft-eligible player ever in the SHL. Regular season and playoffs combined, he recorded 11 goals and 23 assists in 57 games. Carlsson’s a unique player, as he already has a very well-rounded toolkit at this age. His biggest strengths are his excellent puck skills and hockey sense. He can beat players with skill moves and anticipate plays as though he were one step ahead of his opponents at all times. Carlsson’s improved as a shooter but remains more of a playmaker. He’s a really solid skater for his size and can utilize his size with puck protection. He plays the game with a high pace and is already very pro-ready. Carlsson vs. Michkov -the debate for the 3rd spot was a long one in our meeting, and it could still turn around in our final rankings. Eetu Siltanen

September 2022 – Carlsson played the majority of the 2021-2022 season against men in the SHL, recording nine points in 35 games. He also played 14 games in the J20 Nationell, notching a sensational 27 points in those games. That 1.93 PPG was miles ahead of any other draft-1 player in the Swedish J20 league ever (minimum of 10 games). Carlsson was one of the leading forwards for Sweden’s U18 National Team the whole season as well, and will probably be one of the leading forwards in next December’s World Juniors as well.

Carlsson has a very comprehensive toolkit, as he excels in practically every area and also boasts a projectable 6-foot-3 frame. He’s an excellent puck handler and, along with his size, is a strong puck protector. His playmaking is very strong as he possesses excellent vision and is a precise passer. Last season, Carlsson didn’t look as strong as a shooter but was able to score a bunch of nice goals anyway. This season’s U20 Four Nations tournament in August showed that I might have just missed something, as he scored four goals in three quality performances for the national team there. I think Carlsson is a very rare package as he basically has everything you can ask for – and he’s squarely in the mix for a top-five spot in the 2023 NHL Draft. Eetu Siltanen