Leo Carlsson's Scorching Pace Down the Stretch of the Season

Leo Carlsson’s sophomore season in the NHL didn’t start off as hoped, especially from a production standpoint. As the second overall pick in the highly anticipated 2023 NHL Draft and arguably the biggest draft pick in Ducks’ franchise history, Carlsson (20) got off to a disappointing start to his 2024-25 campaign, scoring just 16 points (9-7=16) in his first 45 games.

Leo Carlsson Named to Sweden's 4 Nation Face-Off Roster

On Dec. 4, it was announced that Carlsson had made Sweden’s 4 Nations Face-Off roster, making him the youngest player in the tournament by nearly two and a half years. As the tournament approached, it was apparent that he would assume a role as a depth forward and would be clearly on the outside looking in at Sweden’s top 12 forward group.

Carlsson only appeared in one game for Sweden at the tournament, finding the box score with just one shot on goal in 14:37 TOI. He was in the presence of several of the greatest Swedish hockey players in history throughout the eight-day tournament and in the little action he got, played like a revitalized and reenergized version of himself.

“Defensively, he’s been really solid. Coming back from 4 Nations, playing against the best players, seeing what the best players from his country do, seeing the best players from Canada, the U.S,” Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said after the trade deadline on Carlsson’s recent play. “I think it was a confidence thing in the sense that he realizes that he can play against those players, right? And I thought the game that he played, he played extremely well.

“It was great. I thought his pace was good. It just makes me really excited for our future. Confidence is a funny thing,” Verbeek continued. “These kids have to realize that they can do it. But I think the other thing with Leo coming out (the break) is that he’s had a more aggressive mindset with his shooting.

“You’re starting to see him shoot the puck a lot more versus passing the puck. That leads to another thing: being confident to want to shoot the puck to score. He’s got a great shot; it just frustrates me sometimes seeing him not shoot the puck when he can shoot the puck. His mindset has been completely different since he got back and it’s been great.”

During the initial stretch of the season, Carlsson was playing as pacey and skilled as ever but could possibly be accused of displaying tunnel vision and attacking multiple defenders alone after the entries he’s become so accustomed to providing.

In the three games leading up to the 4 Nations tournament and the 14 since, Carlsson has elevated his game, both from a production standpoint and detail standpoint, significantly. In his last 17 games, Carlsson has tallied 17 points (7-10=17). He’s received tougher matchups and logged more difficult minutes despite the drop in TOI from his rookie season (18:07 to 15:51).

Of late, Carlsson has displayed more willingness to change the pace of his attacks, timing his darts to the middle of the defensive structure on the rush, and utilizing streaking teammates on his wings, setting up several high-danger looks.

Defensively, he’s more astute on his assignment in coverage, not puck-watching as much when his check doesn’t have possession. He’s returned to his natural aptitude of diagnosing opposing breakouts as an F3 forechecker and timing his engagements to disrupt.

The next phase in his evolution will come in the form of manufacturing more puck touches for himself in the offensive zone when the Ducks have established pressure. He’s a tad too keen on establishing a net presence when the puck is on the perimeter when his strengths lie when he has the puck on his stick in space. He could stand to time his cuts to the slot more effectively to maintain that same presence while not exerting himself in position battles.

Defensively, he will need to win more board battles when attackers have possession. He could use his size and reach more to disrupt cycles singlehandedly and spark rushes the other way, the true strength of Carlsson and the Ducks as a whole.

Carlsson’s breakout has been a breath of fresh air in a season where the Ducks have been starved for offense. It’s a relief their most important draft pick is living up to his supreme potential. It’s exciting there are clearly several more levels he can take his game to in the years to come.

Nesterenko Making the Most of his Latest Recall

Report: Ducks Organization Recalls Stian Solberg from SHL