Player Discussion Leo Carlsson

[Boxscore]

well, Carlsson is supposed to be a franchise player so that is my expectation. Especially when the organization passed on one (maybe two) other franchise-labeled players. And remember, Backstrom played pretty much his whole career passing to Ovechkin. That sure didn't hurt his numbers.

If all these kids reach their ceilings, I think Ducks fans will end up happy. I see...

Bedard: Hybrid of Crosby / McDavid production (125-140) during best years. Stylistically, he's insanely dynamic like a young Steve Yzerman.

Michkov: Kucherov / Bure level offensive dynamo who scores 50+ goals five or more times in his career and hovers around 95-115 points per year during his prime.

Fantilli: Hybrid of Eichel and Carter. Great shooter and high-scoring threat who can bag 40-45 and 90 points any given year. Not as well-rounded, and might end up a winger, but a thrilling player.

Carlsson: Hybrid of Backstrom and Kopitar with some of Getzlafs moves and wizardry. Oozes likeability and hockey sense. Will be a great teammate and a coach's dream. Might not dazzle as much as Fantilli -- and certainly not Michkov -- but his full-meal game will likely make him more valuable than at least one of them. Points wise, I'm thinking a reliable 30/55/85 for his average prime year and 35/65/100 as his career year. He won't score like Bedard or Michkov but he'll do all the other things remarkably well.

Bedard is a no-brainer. Outside of him, Michkov, Carlsson, Benson, and Gulyayev are my favorite players in the draft.

 

[tomd]

If all these kids reach their ceilings, I think Ducks fans will end up happy. I see...

Bedard: Hybrid of Crosby / McDavid production (125-140) during best years. Stylistically, he's insanely dynamic like a young Steve Yzerman.

Michkov: Kucherov / Bure level offensive dynamo who scores 50+ goals five or more times in his career and hovers around 95-115 points per year during his prime.

Fantilli: Hybrid of Eichel and Carter. Great shooter and high-scoring threat who can bag 40-45 and 90 points any given year. Not as well-rounded, and might end up a winger, but a thrilling player.

Carlsson: Hybrid of Backstrom and Kopitar with some of Getzlafs moves and wizardry. Oozes likeability and hockey sense. Will be a great teammate and a coach's dream. Might not dazzle as much as Fantilli -- and certainly not Michkov -- but his full-meal game will likely make him more valuable than at least one of them.

Bedard is a no-brainer. Outside of him, Michkov, Carlsson, Benson, and Gulyayev are my favorite players in the draft.

That is basically how I see Carlsson if he is to justify his 2OA selection. Given his size, I think he may become more of a hybrid of Sundin and Kopitar...that is my hope anyway. Achieving that will require him to take his goal scoring to the next level but from what I've seen of him, I think he has that potential.

 

[Smirnov2Chistov]

If Carlsson ends up a bigger, stronger, Nicklas Backstrom, will Ducks fans be happy?

I think I said something along those lines here and was challenged for it. I think thats when most of the board here was head over heels by Fantilli.

I still hold the thought that none of our prospects have the combination like a Carlsson. Big, pick possession hound, good scoring touch, patient when finding an open pass..

not trying to go full OT, but I’m not impressed by our prospect pool forward-wise like others on here. The Pastujovs, Hvidsons, and Tracey’s don’t move the needle enough IMO. If our GM was(were?) wise, he would trade one of these defensive guys that we have an abundance of for a good forward prospect.

 

[AngelDuck]

Not sure he has the two way game to be a Kopitar although still time to develop that side. I personally like the Backstrom comparison better

 

[Leonardo87]

Not sure he has the two way game to be a Kopitar although still time to develop that side. I personally like the Backstrom comparison better

Both player comparisons are pretty close, imo. Also see a lot of Getzlaf in him also, with his high IQ and ability to slow up the game. If he can use his size and add a little grit would be perfect.

 

[UAGoalieGuy]

Do you all think he slots into the lineup this year or next year?

 

[AngelDuck]

Both player comparisons are pretty close, imo. Also see a lot of Getzlaf in him also, with his high IQ and ability to slow up the game. If he can use his size and add a little grit would be perfect.

Getzlaf could paste you into the boards and would fight anyone. Carlsson is never going to come close to that

 

[Leonardo87]

Getzlaf could paste you into the boards and would fight anyone. Carlsson is never going to come close to that

Not talking about the physical aspect. Comparing him to his high IQ and ability to slow down the game and see the play before it happens.

 

[Arthuros]

Do you all think he slots into the lineup this year or next year?

Permanently, probably not. He'll get his audition for sure.

 

[Kalv]

Do you all think he slots into the lineup this year or next year?

To be honest, no idea. I guess I'd expect him to spend the year with us since we signed him and I have not heard him going back to Sweden, plus I'd expect him being ready for NHL. But I would not be surprised seeing him spend time in the AHL or even SHL, Pat has been saying he doesn't want to rush prospects. I guess the camp will show a lot.

 

[Trojans86]

Well it's impossible to predict right now, but Backstrom has scored over 1,000 points in the NHL, is a Cup champion, and is 94th all-time in NHL PPG -- ahead of superstars like Mahovlich, Gartner, Alfredsson, St. Louis, Giroux, Recchi, Modano, Thornton, Getzlaf, Hossa, Sedin, Spezza, Shanahan, Zetterberg, Kopitar, Marchand, Heatley, Damphousse, Yashin, etc. And, without blinking, you fully expect that already? If he ends up this player, he might go down as the greatest Duck ever, definitely Top-3.

A bigger stronger version of that is easily the best duck ever and one of the top players of a generation.

 

[Trojans86]

I think I said something along those lines here and was challenged for it. I think thats when most of the board here was head over heels by Fantilli.

I still hold the thought that none of our prospects have the combination like a Carlsson. Big, pick possession hound, good scoring touch, patient when finding an open pass..

not trying to go full OT, but I’m not impressed by our prospect pool forward-wise like others on here. The Pastujovs, Hvidsons, and Tracey’s don’t move the needle enough IMO. If our GM was(were?) wise, he would trade one of these defensive guys that we have an abundance of for a good forward prospect.

In fairness, if you look at our under-23 forward talent it is actually remarkable with Zegra, McTavish, Carlsson. It is just heavily discounted because of who we have graduated. Im much less concerned with us trying to fill the holes in our lineup through sniping wingers from FA (like Killorn). Solid D and top 6 centers are the ones that are impossible to find (at a reasonable price).

 

[AngelDuck]

A bigger stronger version of that is easily the best duck ever and one of the top players of a generation.

Not sure. Getzlaf was a more dominant player than Backstrom and it’s not super close IMO. Nik played on a lot of elite teams and racked up some assists from Ovechkin, although still a top 15 player of his generation

I would settle for him being Backstrom though and merely being the 2nd or 3rd best Duck of all time.

It’s weird how this board watched Getzlaf completely dominate the regular season and playoffs for 18 seasons and still underrates him.

Aside from Crosby, Malkin, and Thornton, I’m not sure which other center you take over him from his era. Maybe Datsyuk?

 

[Anaheim4ever]

Not sure. Getzlaf was a more dominant player than Backstrom and it’s not super close IMO. Nik played on a lot of elite teams and racked up some assists from Ovechkin, although still a top 15 player of his generation

I would settle for him being Backstrom though and merely being the 2nd or 3rd best Duck of all time.

It’s weird how this board watched Getzlaf completely dominate the regular season and playoffs for 18 seasons and still underrates him.

Aside from Crosby, Malkin, and Thornton, I’m not sure which other center you take over him from his era. Maybe Datsyuk?

Agreed. Passing pucks to Ovi vs passing to Perry. If Getzlaf had Ovi on his line during his prime he would have many 90+ point seasons in his career and a few 100 point years too (Getz highest was 91 points). Ovi can take a routine pass from a center and beat the goalie cleanly with his shot and he's gonna pass Gretzky in all time goals.

I think Carlsson is capable of being better than Backstrom if you take off some of Backstroms points he got from Ovi destroying goalies with his shot.
Carlsson having a 90+ point season without an Ovi on his line is more impressive to me.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

Do you all think he slots into the lineup this year or next year?

I'm guessing he'll slot into the NHL lineup permanently next year. The reasoning behind this is that Carlsson has been playing wing for the past two seasons in the SHL and Anaheim sees him as a center. There isn't a center position open for Carlsson on the NHL club right now.

1C is Zegras.
2C is McTavish.
3C is Lundestrom. Lundy is an RFA with arb next off-season.

And since Carlsson does need to adapt to the narrower NA rink, Carlsson seemed set for the AHL as a 1C. While I prefer he return to the SHL as Orebro's 1C, Carlsson will be missing SHL pre-season and probably the first two months of the SHL regular season. If Carlsson stays here, then he'll know the AHL coaching staff and teammates with the rookie tourney as well as training camp.

 

[The Midnight Burrito]

Stuff like this:

How did you read that as him being disappointed?

 

[Mr Rogers]

Even with Ovechkin, Backstrom settled in as mostly a 70 to 85 point guy, which is basically where Getzy was, but that's while playing with Ovi as I said and playing in the eastern conference, some of which was in the old southeast division. The Caps also played without much structure during Backstroms first few years and that's when he racked up some of his best seasons. So I think Getzy was a little better, but they really were about as close as you kind find in terms of level of play, impact and overall ability.

nevertheless, would be thrilled if he reached backstroms level and would consider that a tremendous success. Backstrom is no slouch defensively either. Backstrom i think is a better comp for Carlsson despite being smaller; they are both cerebral players with really good hands. i don't think Carlsson will ever come remotely close to bringing the physical presence that Getz did. Backstrom is no speedster, but he moves well. Carlsson is gonna have to find a way to get to that level of skating.

 

[FiveTacos]

I'll be satisfied if he reaches Backstrom level. But thrilled, I'll reserve for if he reaches Sundin / Forsberg territory.

 

[Sean Garrity]

He's got like 3-4 inches on Backstrom and uses his body more effectively. Leo is a big dude.

 

[McDonald19]

I still think Barkov is a better comp than Backstrom.

 

[ScarTroy]

I still think Barkov is a better comp than Backstrom.

I agree, and that would be huge for us for him to become a comparable player to Barkov

 

[Trojans86]

Not sure. Getzlaf was a more dominant player than Backstrom and it’s not super close IMO. Nik played on a lot of elite teams and racked up some assists from Ovechkin, although still a top 15 player of his generation

I would settle for him being Backstrom though and merely being the 2nd or 3rd best Duck of all time.

It’s weird how this board watched Getzlaf completely dominate the regular season and playoffs for 18 seasons and still underrates him.

Aside from Crosby, Malkin, and Thornton, I’m not sure which other center you take over him from his era. Maybe Datsyuk?

To be clear, I wasn’t comparing Backstromg to Getz. I was comparing a bigger and stronger version of Backstrom. That sounds like an amazing player. I loved Getz so I know what you’re saying though.

 

[AngelDuck]

Even with Ovechkin, Backstrom settled in as mostly a 70 to 85 point guy, which is basically where Getzy was, but that's while playing with Ovi as I said and playing in the eastern conference, some of which was in the old southeast division. The Caps also played without much structure during Backstroms first few years and that's when he racked up some of his best seasons. So I think Getzy was a little better, but they really were about as close as you kind find in terms of level of play, impact and overall ability.

nevertheless, would be thrilled if he reached backstroms level and would consider that a tremendous success. Backstrom is no slouch defensively either. Backstrom i think is a better comp for Carlsson despite being smaller; they are both cerebral players with really good hands. i don't think Carlsson will ever come remotely close to bringing the physical presence that Getz did. Backstrom is no speedster, but he moves well. Carlsson is gonna have to find a way to get to that level of skating.

A 70-85 point guy back in the old days when point totals weren't super inflated. Players like Getzlaf and Backstrom played in a "dead puck era". But Backstrom also lacked a physical edge and an ability to take over a game in the playoffs. I know he ended up winning a cup but he was also very mediorcre on a lot of those runs

It just isn't close. When the 2 players were on the top of their games, Getzlaf was just head and shoulders the more dominant player. Personally

 

[ScarTroy]

A 70-85 point guy back in the old days when point totals weren't super inflated. Players like Getzlaf and Backstrom played in a "dead puck era". But Backstrom also lacked a physical edge and an ability to take over a game in the playoffs.

It just isn't close. When the 2 players were on the top of their games, Getzlaf was just head and shoulders the more dominant player. Personally

When Getz was on his game there’s very few players that can dictate a game in the way he could. It was actually absurd watching him completely take over a game.

 

[Mr Rogers]

A 70-85 point guy back in the old days when point totals weren't super inflated. Players like Getzlaf and Backstrom played in a "dead puck era". But Backstrom also lacked a physical edge and an ability to take over a game in the playoffs. I know he ended up winning a cup but he was also very mediorcre on a lot of those runs

It just isn't close. When the 2 players were on the top of their games, Getzlaf was just head and shoulders the more dominant player. Personally

Oh yeah, we definitely are on the same page preferring Getzlaf but they were both outstanding players for sure. We would be fortunate if Carlsson came to have a impact similar to either of them. I think these guys because they weren’t Crosby/Malkin are downplayed a bit as top Cs in their era. Getz especially has never been a darling around here but Backstrom imo can be overlooked too. The guy was phenomenal