Carlsson was named to Team Sweden for the 2026 Winter Olympics but missed the tournament because of injury. Yet, Vatrano says that honor, as well as Carlsson\u2019s selection to play for Sweden at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off turbocharged the player\u2019s confidence.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was around all those guys and, you know, that’s a big thing in anybody’s career, but especially that young,\u201d Vatrano said. \u201cI mean, I even noticed it, but I think even at the (4 Nations), I think you noticed a completely different player when he came back.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust him going there and being around all those guys. He took that huge step and even after the Olympics this year, I know he would have loved to be there. He\u2019s the player that we all thought he was going to be.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carlsson was second on the team during the regular season with 67 points (29 goals, 38 assists) in 70 games, behind forward Cutter Gauthier<\/a>\u00a0(69 points), and tied with forward Troy Terry for second during the postseason with 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 12 games.<\/p>\n Last season was the first time a Ducks team reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2018.<\/p>\n Carlsson is Anaheim’s No. 1 center, offensively adept with top-end speed, who plays a 200-foot game that coach Joel Quenneville can feel comfortable matching against the opposition’s top lines.<\/p>\n