Tough break for both the Anaheim Ducks and Team Sweden as rising star Leo Carlsson is set to miss time at a crucial point in the season-and just weeks before the Winter Olympics.
The Ducks announced Friday that Carlsson underwent surgery to treat a Morel-Lavallée lesion in his left thigh, a rare soft tissue injury typically caused by significant trauma. The timeline for recovery? About 3-5 weeks, which puts both Anaheim’s playoff push and Carlsson’s Olympic dreams in a precarious spot.
Carlsson was already sidelined for Tuesday’s game against the Dallas Stars-a game the Ducks managed to win 3-1, snapping a frustrating nine-game skid. While that victory offered a glimmer of hope, the absence of their top scorer doesn’t make the road ahead any easier. He also missed time last month with a lower-body injury, though the team hasn’t confirmed if the two issues are connected.
From Anaheim’s perspective, the timing couldn’t be worse. The Ducks are sitting sixth in the Pacific Division at 22-21-3, just four points out of the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. With the season entering its most critical stretch, losing Carlsson-who’s been their offensive engine-could be a major setback.
And then there’s the international angle. Carlsson was expected to be a key figure for Team Sweden heading into next month’s Winter Olympics in Milan.
With Group B play set to begin on February 11 against host Italy, the clock is ticking. Sweden’s brass, including director Anders Lundberg and head coach Sam Hallam, may be forced to make a tough call soon if Carlsson can’t return to full strength in time.
The 21-year-old has been nothing short of electric this season. With 18 goals and 26 assists, Carlsson leads the Ducks with 44 points.
His last outing-just a week ago against the Sabres-was a reminder of what he brings to the ice: a goal, an assist, and a commanding presence every time he touched the puck. He’s on pace to blow past his previous career-best of 45 points from the 2024-25 season, and has emerged not only as Anaheim’s top offensive weapon but as one of the league’s most exciting young talents.
Now, the Ducks will have to find a way to stay in the playoff hunt without their leading scorer, and Sweden may need to rework its Olympic plans. It’s a tough stretch for Carlsson, who’s been building momentum all season long. The next few weeks will be crucial-for his recovery, for Anaheim’s postseason hopes, and for Sweden’s Olympic aspirations.