Leif Leo Olof Carlsson (born 26 December 2004) is a Swedish professional ice hockey player who is a centre and alternate captain for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted second overall by the Ducks in the 2023 NHL entry draft.
Carlsson originally played at the youth level with hometown team Färjestad BK before moving to fellow tenured Swedish Hockey League (SHL) team, ÃÂrebro HK, for the 2020âÂÂ21 season. During the 2021âÂÂ22 season, Carlsson made his professional debut in the SHL as a 17-year-old, posting three goals and six assists in 35 regular-season games.
In his year of NHL draft eligibility, Carlsson increased his stock in playing exclusively with the senior team in the SHL showing an offensive acumen in securing a scoring line role among ÃÂrebro HK for the 2022âÂÂ23 season. Bob McKenzie referred to Carlsson as a "blue-chip" prospect in the 2023 NHL entry draft.
On 28 June 2023, Carlsson was drafted second overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2023 draft. He signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Ducks on 12 July. On 10 October, Carlsson was named to the Ducks' opening night roster for the 2023âÂÂ24 season after attending the team's training camp. However, he suffered an injury during practice on 6 October, and was unable to play in the Ducks' first two games of the season. Carlsson made his NHL debut on 19 October, scoring a goal in the Ducks' 3âÂÂ2 loss against the Dallas Stars. On 10 November, in a 6âÂÂ3 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, Carlsson became the youngest player in Ducks franchise history to record a hat-trick, at 18 years and 319 days old. During a game against the Boston Bruins on 22 February 2025, Carlsson tallied his 49th career point to tie Hampus Lindholm for the fourth-most points by a Ducks player before age 21.
Carlsson represented Sweden junior team in the 2023 World Junior Championships. In May 2023, it was announced that Carlsson would play for Sweden senior team in the 2023 IIHF World Championship. Carlsson was selected to play for the 2026 Swedish Olympic Team, he was expected to play as their first line center, but a Morel-Lavallée lesion (separation of skin and fat from fascia tissue) on his left thigh caused him to miss the tournament.