The Anaheim Ducks sent young Leo Carlsson to the stands on Tuesday night while his teammates took on the Blue Jackets in Columbus.
The player who was selected with the second overall pick in the last draft is still healthy.
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TSN hockey expert Pierre LeBrun explained why. It appears that Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek has spoken with Carlsson and his agent to come up with a plan that would involve limiting the player to two games per week for the first few months of the season.
The situation is then re-evaluated based on the skater’s performance. The GM believes this will allow the 18-year-old to make a greater impact and be more rested in the second half of the season.
In an interview with The Athletic, Verbeek explained that he drew on his own experiences.
“I played in this league when I was 19. I know we’ll hit a wall in the 40th or 42nd game,” said the man who worked as a striker in the National League for almost 20 years.
“I hit a wall and it took me a while to get over it. I don’t want him [Carlsson] get through.”
The Swede was forced to miss the Ducks’ first two games due to a lower-body injury. Since his recovery, Carlsson has played two games and scored one goal.