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The Anaheim Ducks pulled off a surprising selection with the second-overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, selecting forward Leo Carlsson.
Carlsson is 6-foot-3 and scored 10 goals and 25 points in 44 games while playing in Sweden’s top league. His numbers resembled those of Nicklas Backstrom in his draft year.
Leo is a Duck!
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) June 28, 2023
We’re proud to select Swedish center Leo Carlsson with the second overall pick in the 2023 #NHLDraft.#FlyTogether | @Honda pic.twitter.com/V4UX1Be5Dg
In his post-selection interview with Elliotte Friedman, Pat Verbeek said “we’ll see… when asked whether Carlsson is likely to start the season in the NHL.
I don’t know how to feel about the pick, but what I’d say is let’s wait and see. I think there’s an immediate reaction for some to be upset with the pick, but both are very high-end centers who put up numbers in their respective leagues that you rarely see.
You have to think there was significant work done looking into both players, especially from the time the Ducks won the second pick and knew the situation. Clearly, the organization saw something that differentiated the players, and generally, the Ducks have done a fairly good job with their first-round picks over the last few years.
It’s a potential franchise-defining decision, and we’ll need to wait a while before we can really judge it.
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