Carlsson Projected to Represent Sweden in NHL's 4 Nations Face-Off
The NHL is forgoing a traditional All-Star weekend in the 2024-25 season and will instead host a "best-on-best" tournament dubbed the "4 Nations Face-off" in February, featuring NHL players representing four countries; Canada, USA, Finland, and Sweden.
The 4 Nations Face-Off will act as a precursor for the highly anticipated return of NHL players to the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy.
The seven-game tournament will occur over eight days from Feb 12-20. Four games will be played at the Bell Centre in Montreal and three at TD Garden in Boston.
Leo Carlsson is rolling with the punches in his rookie season
The four teams will each play three tournament games in a round-robin format that awards three points for a regulation win, two points for an overtime or shootout win, and one point for an overtime or shootout loss.
The two teams with the best record will advance to the Championship game set for Feb. 20 at 5 pm PST in Boston.
On June 28, the four teams announced their first six players selected to represent their respective countries at the upcoming tournament.
Last week, NHL.com projected the rosters for each of the four teams. Leo Carlsson (19) was the only member of the Anaheim Ducks projected to represent his country (Sweden) at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
NHL.com deputy managing editor Adam Kimelman, staff writer Tom Gulitti, and NHL.com/sv independent correspondent Peter Ekholm projected Carlsson could center a potent "kid line" with Lucas Raymond of the Detroit Red Wings and San Jose Sharks forward William Eklund on his wings, allowing them valuable tournament experience in anticipation of the 2026 Olympics.
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The Ducks selected Leo Carlsson with the second-overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft and he just wrapped up his 2023-24 rookie season in Anaheim. Between injury and a game-management program early in the season, Carlsson missed a total of 27 games. He scored 12 goals and 29 points in his first 55 career NHL games last season.
While there was an initial adjustment period for Carlsson and further adjustments are needed regarding the limited time and space available at the NHL level, he was able to display the aspects of his game that project him as a franchise player for the foreseeable future in a Ducks jersey.
His tangible skills like his power, reach, and improved skating stride dazzled on a nightly basis, the intangible skills he showed in sustained flashes will be what separates him as he continues to progress.
Carlsson is able to read the ice and diagnose a developing play at a level beyond his years. He processes the speed of defenders and can calculate the most optimal avenue of attack. He manipulates and draws defenders to him before either fending them off or moving the puck to a teammate in space or with speed.
Though Not a Calder Finalist, Leo Carlsson's Impact and Potential are Immeasurable
While he projects as the youngest member on Sweden's 4 Nations Face-Off roster and eventually on their Olympic roster, if Carlsson continues on his current trajectory, he'll not only be a shoo-in but could find himself assuming a more significant role than simply that of a fourth-line center on a "kid line".
To this point, Carlsson has represented Sweden in three major tournaments in his career; the 2022 U18 World Championships where he scored three points in two games, the 2023 World Junior Championship where he scored six points in seven games, and the 2023 World Championship where he scored five points in eight games.
It is unclear when the official rosters for the 4 Nations Face-Off will be announced, but it will be worth monitoring the landscape of the projected rosters as the 2024-25 season wears on.
