Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson remains in the shadow of Connor Bedard, selected shortly before him in the last National Hockey League (NHL) draft, and is ready to make his league debut on Thursday when the Anaheim Ducks visit give Dallas Stars.
The second selection of the 2023 Amateur Auction missed the first two matches of the campaign due to a lower-body injury sustained while training about two weeks ago. However, that is all in the past and now the 18-year-old Swede will lead a trio completed by Troy Terry and the spectacular Trevor Zegras.
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Carlsson’s arrival on the ice should therefore increase the winds of change for the Ducks, who defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 6-3 in their last game on Sunday. Head coach Greg Cronin’s team is trying to defy the odds, with Anaheim finishing last season in last place in the standings.
Without fulfilling all of the club’s needs, the rookie should at least brighten the lives of his teammates and fans who have had little to eat at the Honda Center in recent years.
“Based on what I’ve seen, if he continues to grow from here by running his business the right way, he’s going to be quite a player,” the Pilot predicted to NHL.com.
In the main Swedish ice hockey league last year, Carlsson collected 10 goals and 15 assists for 25 points in 44 games for the Örebro club.