Leo Carlsson Becomes Top Scoring Swede in NHL History

The successful Swede reacts to the new nickname

ANAHEIM. In Vatican City, Pope Leo rules – and in California as well.

Because it is, of course, with the names that rule the Catholic Church, Swedish Anaheim star Leo Carlsson must start being compared after another success in a derby against the LA Kings at home in the Honda Center.

– Haha, it feels like a very great honor. Hope it sticks, says the 20-year-old from Karlstad during an interview with Sportbladet and at the same time says that despite the success, he is still nervous before every match.

Extra is at stake at the Honda Center in sun-baked Anaheim during a rare Friday matinee, because not only is it the first game since the short Thanksgiving break – it’s also the so-called Freeway Faceoff, that is, the derby against the hated rival LA Kings.

So naturally, Leo Carlsson, Southern California’s brightest shining star this fall, looks to steal the show. First he plays until two goals, then he completes a recovery from a 2-4 deficit by himself equalizing with his thirteenth goal of the season with a minute and a half remaining in regular match time. After which the ducks can salvage one of the year’s nicest victories on penalties.

– It was a fun match to play, with a good atmosphere in the arena. There’s some weekend going on, huh? I don’t have a very good idea what it’s all about, hehe. But, yes, it was good pressure compared to mid-week matches, says the 20-year-old hero as he stands puffing in a hoodie in the shabby dressing room after the decision.

– My three points? Yes, those were two easy ones…or, it’s never easy, you shouldn’t say that. But there were nice assists, too. Then, of course, it was also nice to be able to set the receipt so late.

With the Black Friday harvest, Leo overtakes William Nylander at the top of the Swedish scoring league and at the same time he is tied for fourth in the regular season, beaten only by Nathan MacKinnon, Macklin Celebrini and Connor McDavid.

– William has played a few fewer matches than me, but, yes, it’s cool and fun, he smiles.

Grandmother and grandmother on site

The funnest part of this particular Black Friday, however, is that very special guests sit and cheer on the steep bleachers in the Honda Center. Both grandmother and grandmother have accompanied mother Camilla and father Kenneth over to the California of the eternal summer and thus get to see the celebrated grandson triumph in a loaded derby.

– Although they don’t know the difference if I score three points or am minus five. They’re just as happy anyway, Leo continues with a laugh.

– But yes, they have been visiting for a while and are going home now when we fly to Chicago on Saturday. It’s been a lot of fun having them here.

A few minus five, however, neither grandma nor anyone else has seen the substantial center commit in a very long time. Leo has really had his big break this year, dominating night after night and getting the exceptionally meritorious coach Joel Quenneville to talk about him as a single big wow factor.

– I’m getting quite comfortable in this league, I know I can handle it, reads his own explanation.

– Because I didn’t really do anything different during the “off-season”, I think I trained about the same things as usual. But you grow as a person, get older and bigger and stronger and gain more self-confidence. At the same time, we have a new coach who has introduced a game that suits me well and also the whole team clicks very well. It’s a lot of fun now, it feels great to come to the hall every day.

“Have a lot to learn about clothing style”

The natural, personal development is also pointed to by Anaheim’s Czech back veteran Radko Gudas – who actually speaks a little Swedish because he spent parts of his childhood in Småland’s Ljungby when his equally hockey-playing father Leo (!) belonged to classic Troy –.

– Leo has always had qualities that cannot be taught, but before this season he has really matured as a person and player and taken a big step forward. You can see it in the confidence and in the way he uses all his skills to his advantage now. It’s great for our team, he makes us better all the time. I am very excited about his future.

Are you nice to him?

– Yes, I try to be (smile). I do what I can to teach him. He still has a lot to learn about dressing before the games, but it will come (broad smile).

Only the teammates don’t grind away the nervousness. Because in parallel with the much-talked-about self-confidence that occasionally makes him challenge the world’s best slopes with neck-breaking feints, the talented youngster still feels that way – and he believes he benefits from that.

– Yes, I’m actually always nervous before the matches. I have been all my life, I don’t know why. But it’s also a nice feeling, because then you know it means something. Then it passes quickly, after the first change I am calm and comfortable.

New nickname

We have noted it – and so has Tre Kronor’s national team captain Sam Hallam.

Leo is not officially selected in the Olympic squad yet, but in practice given. Sweden’s best NHL center is almost guaranteed to be in the hunt for medals in Milan in February.

How much does he think about it?

– Not every second or every day, right away. It’s mostly when I see something on Instagram that I think about it. And then I think of it as a positive thing, that it’s a great opportunity if I come along and get to play “best-on-best” hockey. That would be a lot of fun.

You showed during the Four Nations Faceoff that you can perform at that level too?

– Yes, but it’s still something I’ve been good at in my career, that I’ve always taken a step up and am comfortable at the next level. It is my main strength as a hockey player, that I find ways when I find myself in those situations.

Says the Pope.

Because that is the nickname that some people think our latest fixed star in the NHL should be given. The current Pope in Rome is also named Leo – the fourteenth – and the name in Anaheim is no less divine.

– What did you say, he asks, slightly startled, when the subject comes up.

Well, the current Pope is called Leo and then we think you should also be called the Pope.

– Hahaha, yes. Yes, it feels like a great honor to be compared to him.

Sam Hallam has promised he will help rub the name in.

– Haha, then we can hope for that.

THE SCORING LEAGUE IN THE NHL AFTER BLACK FRIDAY

1. Nathan Mackinnon, Colorado Avalanche – 41 points (19+22)

2. Macklin Celebrini, San Jose Sharks – 36 (14-22)

3. Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers – 34 (10+24)

4. Leo Carlsson, Anaheim Ducks – 33 (13+20)

Connor Bedard, Chicago Blackhawks – 33 (14+19)

6. Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars – 32 (15+17)

7. William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs – 31 (11+20)

Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights – 31 (11+20)

Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche – 31 (9+22)

10. Mark Scheifele, Winnipeg Jets – 30 (13+17)

Mikko Rantanen, Dallas Stars – 30 (10+20)

Martin Necas, Colorado Avalanche – 30 (13+17)

Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota Wild – 30 (16+14)