What Would Leo Carlsson Mean for the Blue Jackets?

In the third part of our series of players most likely to be selected by the Blue Jackets in June’s NHL Draft, we’re heading overseas for the first time to profile Swedish forward Leo Carlsson. In a year with a generational talent – and then a potential elite center – Carlsson finds himself as the second runner-up prize. But make no mistake, he could be a really special player.

Like Adam Fantilli, the debate could be made for Leo Carlsson as a potential first overall pick in a lot of other drafts. In fact, Carlsson is quietly touted as one of the best Swedish prospects we’ve seen in a long time, drawing comparisons to some all-time greats; most notably Mats Sundin, which gives you a rough idea of what kind of player he is.

He has the size (6’3″, nearly 200 pounds) you typically want in a top line center, and he has the skill also. He has soft hands and uses his body well to create time and space for himself to make plays; he’s a great distributor of the puck and even has a big shot. He’s even a mature two-way player for his age, very responsible defensively and with a competitive edge that will make him constantly yearn for improvement.

The only knock on Carlsson at this point is his foot speed, but even though he isn’t the most nimble skater, his high IQ allows him to still be in the right place at the right time, on both sides of the puck. He doesn’t have the same kind of ceiling as Fantilli or projected #1 pick Connor Bedard – but make no mistake; Carlsson is a terrific prospect, one who projects as a high end two-way center. In my opinion, the best comparable for this player as far as playstyle and potential upside is Alexsander Barkov.

I’ll go as far as saying that Carlsson one of the most NHL ready players in the entire draft. He’s already played two seasons of professional hockey in the SHL, a league that is very difficult to score in. This season in 44 games, he had 10 goals and 25 points, despite not turning 18 until late December. He was productive while playing solid two-way hockey against grown men – not an easy feat.

Could Leo Carlsson and David Jiricek (pictured above) be future teammates?

With that said, it will be up to whatever NHL team drafts Carlsson to decide where he should play next season. While he may be ready to play in the NHL, often what separates future stars from average players is the confidence that can come from an extra season of development. He could play in the SHL again next year, or spend a season in the AHL to adjust to the North American style. Either way, I would expect him to emerge as a dominant two-way player by season’s end.

If he does step into the NHL I would not be surprised. He’s good enough to play in the middle six for nearly any team in the league, though maybe not as a center right away. He has spent time on the wing in Sweden, and the safer play here might be to allow him to ease into that role, not unlike the Blue Jackets did with Pierre-Luc Dubois.

Ultimately, with the proper development and a good surrounding environment, I think Carlsson can be a dominant top line two-way center in the NHL. The kind of player that will play in all situations, against any competition, and give your team a solid 20 minutes each night. He may not produce like Bedard or Fantilli at their peaks, but if we’re picking third, Carlsson has emerged as the obvious pick. He would be a great fit for the Blue Jackets.