Ducks’ Leo Carlsson gets vote of confidence from veteran teammate after new contract
· Yahoo Sports
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The Anaheim Ducks matched the Leo Carlsson offer sheet this offseason, making him the highest-paid player in the NHL. He will only hold that title for one season, as Macklin Celebrini takes the mantle in 2027-28. With the big contract, though, expectations for Carlsson are only going to rise.
The Ducks center is one of the brightest young players in the NHL. He played to a near point-per-game clip during the 2025-26 season. But teammate Frank Vatrano sees the Swedish star making an even greater impact in 2026-27.
“I think for him to come in this year completely healthy and experiencing that play in the playoffs at the highest level, it will only help him,” Vatrano said, via NHL.com. “Obviously, when you get that kind of contract, you’re going to be playing with confidence. You always play with confidence, but for him, it’s another step. He wants to be that guy. You can see he’s a great kid. Yeah, I could definitely see him taking a huge, huge step this season.”
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Carlsson missed 12 games last season due to an injury. Still, he showed that he has the potential to become a game-breaking forward in the NHL. The Ducks center will have every opportunity to show what he can this year, as he is likely penciled in as Anaheim’s No. 1 center.
The Ducks made the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2026 thanks in part to Carlsson. They certainly hope he can continue growing as a player and lead them back to the postseason for years to come. Anaheim begins its 2026-27 campaign on October 2 against the Vegas Golden Knights.