With the 2nd overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, the Anaheim Ducks select C Leo Carlsson. Pretty surprising as many predicted C Adam Fantilli would have been a better pick but Ducks GM, Pat Verbeek, must see something in Carlsson that we don't. So who is Leo Carlsson and why was he picked?
Carlsson, 18, played in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) with Orebro since 2020 and was named the Swedish Junior Hockey Player of the Year in 2023. That year, he recorded the most points and assists by a junior player in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) with Orebro, recording 10-15=25 points in 44 games as an 18-year-old. Carlsson's 25 points were the 5th-most all-time by a draft-eligible player in the SHL, trailing only Daniel Sedin (42 points in 1998-99), Henrik Sedin (34 points in 1998-99), Elias Lindholm (30 points in 2012-13) and Nicklas Backstrom (26 points in 2005-06). Carlsson also led SHL players 20 and under in points per game (.57) and ranked second in goals, and third in points and assists. That's pretty good. He is 6-2 and 194-pounds which is a good size for NHL.
Carlsson is also a good playoff player which is pretty important in the NHL. He tallied 1 goal, 8 assists, 9 points, with a +8 rating in 13 SHL Playoff games, helping Orebro advance to the semifinals in 2023. He had led Orebro in postseason assists and ranked second in scoring. For a 18 year old in the playoffs, that's pretty good as well. Of course the SHL is not the NHL, it's still good to lead in numbers in a professional league. Among all SHL Playoff leaders after the semifinals, he ranked tied for second in assists, third in plus/minus and tied for fifth in points. Also impressive for an 18 year old.
Carlsson has also represented his country at many international tournaments, including the 2023 World Championship (2-3=5 points with a +5 rating in eight games) where he was the youngest-ever player to score a goal for Sweden on May 14 vs. Austria (18 years, 138 days) and the youngest Swede to appear at the tournament May 12 vs. Germany (18 years, 136 days). Carlsson scored 3-3=6 points with a +4 rating for Sweden at the 2023 World Junior Championship, ranking third among Sweden skaters in points and goals as one of two underage forwards. Very good!
So why did the Ducks select him over Fantilli? Not really sure to be honest. Probably that Carlsson has professional experience and shows that he can be good as a professional while Fantilli's highest level was college. Some compare Carlsson to Swedish ice hockey player, Mats Sundin, who was a star in NHL. Who knows if Fantilli or Carlsson will have a better NHL career but regardless this was a good pick. I'm giving this a "B" and maybe hopefully will be an "A" pick.
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