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It was a win – and a performance – that might be a harbinger of things to come for Leo Carlsson and the Anaheim Ducks.
During a Ducks home game on March 28, fans were treated to a breakout performance by Carlsson, who set an NHL career-best four-point night, capped off by a thrilling 5-4 Ducks overtime win.
For the young forward, who scored once and added three assists, it was a confidence-boosting effort on multiple levels.
“It’s a hard league,” Carlsson told NHLPA.com. “The first half of this season didn’t go the way I wanted it to. I felt like I was playing some good hockey, but points-wise, it wasn’t coming in.”
For the Ducks, who last made a playoff appearance in 2018, it was a welcome reminder that progress is being made.
“It’s getting better and better – you can feel it,” said Carlsson, the second overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. “We have a couple more steps to take to make a push for the playoffs. I know everyone is very motivated to achieve that goal. The big thing is to keep building and working together to achieve our goal. You can feel the energy in the room – that we are going to push forward.”
Though they won’t be in the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season, the Ducks record of 35-37-8 is an improvement from last season’s 50 losses.
Carlsson, who reached the 20-goal plateau this season, will be central to Anaheim’s pursuit of playoff success.
It’s easy to understand why he is being cast in that role.
When he scored the game-winning goal on Nov. 19 in Chicago, Carlsson became the first teenager in Ducks history to score four career game-winning goals.
But Carlsson is making an impact beyond just scoring.
He’s developed noticeable chemistry with fellow rising star, Cutter Gauthier, who joined the Ducks in a Jan. 8 trade with the Philadelphia Flyers.
Gauthier – born in Sweden but raised in the United States – has also hit the 20-goal mark this season.
“He’s a great teammate and great linemate,” praised Carlsson. “He can create space, so a lot of the time, all you need to do is get him the puck and he takes it from there.”
Just like the pair did in a recent overtime win at home on April 9.
Carlsson sped down the right side into the offensive zone before dishing a pass to Gauthier, who buried it for the game-winner.
“Cutter’s a great player, a finesse player who has a great shot.”
But Carlsson’s game isn’t just about highlight-reel passes.
“I always try to be strong in the defensive zone – that is something that is very important if you want to impact,” said Carlsson, who owns a plus-8 rating in 2024-25. “There are so many great players in this league, so you need to be aware of where they are every shift, and you have to be ready to backcheck hard. Stopping scoring chances can often lead to your team getting scoring chances, so it is important to be strong in every zone.”
Mission accomplished for the player who was Team Sweden’s youngest player at the 4 Nations Face-Off where he was able to learn from veterans such as Victor Hedman as well as fellow centremen in Elias Pettersson and Mika Zibanejad.
Carlsson, who scored in his NHL debut on Oct. 19, 2023, is embracing the opportunities ahead – both for the team and himself.
“I always put pressure on myself, and I have high expectations. You never want to put too much pressure on yourself – you want to do the things you know can help make a difference. The more you can just go out and play naturally, the better the results will be.”
“I learned that adversity is okay sometimes and that it can make you a better player and person.”
