Since Feb. 22, he has 52 points (22 goals, 30 assists) in 46 games, 11th in the NHL and first among players 25 or younger.
Carlsson said when he returned to the Ducks from 4 Nations, it felt like the game slowed down. The puck started going in, and things started to snowball in the right direction.
“As you play more and more years and games in this league, I feel like you’ll of course develop parts in your game, but you also understand what makes you successful,” said Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond, who also played for Sweden at 4 Nations. “I think that’s just a product of that. It’s real fun to see. He’s really good player, and I think he’s going to be a big player in this league.”
Carlsson worked on gaining strength and speed in the offseason in Sweden.
When he reported to training camp in Anaheim this season, he had a new coach in Joel Quenneville, who had won the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010, 2013 and 2015 and recorded more regular-season wins (969 entering the season) than anyone but Scotty Bowman (1,244).
Quenneville’s style has helped Carlsson.
“We’re making a lot of plays off the rush, and I just think for him, especially as a young player … There’s less thinking in our current system,” linemate Troy Terry said. “It’s a lot more just reads and playing hockey. You see it if you watch him for five minutes. He’s incredibly smart. I think he’s just playing more free. He’s just trusting his instincts more and just playing.”
Carlsson agreed.
“I’m not doing whatever I want, but [I have] that mindset a little bit,” he said. “Just do good things with the puck in the right situation. I’m playing more freely.”
Carlsson is playing more period, averaging 19:18 of ice time, more than three minutes more than he did last season (16:14). Playing in all situations, he has two shorthanded goals, tied for first in the NHL.
He’s learning how to use his added strength, fighting through checks, protecting the puck and making plays in tight spaces. He’s deferring to older players less and shooting the puck more, averaging 2.67 shots per game, more than one more shot than he did last season (1.5).
“It seems like he has the puck more, coming up with more loose pucks,” Quenneville said. “His speed through the middle is noticeable.”
Carlsson had 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists) during an 11-game point streak from Oct. 21-Nov. 11, helping Anaheim go 9-2-0 over that stretch.
When he scored two goals in a 4-1 win at the Winnipeg Jets on Nov. 11, he became the only player in Ducks history to reach 25 points in 15 games. Hockey Hall of Fame forward Teemu Selanne had 24 points in 15 games in 1995-96.
When he scored the Ducks’ goal in a 4-1 loss at the Avalanche on Tuesday, he reached 100 points (43 goals, 47 assists) in 147 games in his NHL career. At 20 years, 320 days, he became the youngest player in Ducks history to reach the milestone, passing Hockey Hall of Fame forward Paul Kariya, who did it at 21 years, 109 days, on Feb. 2, 1996.
“He hasn’t been in the League that long, but he’s playing major minutes, he’s playing against the top players and he’s producing, which is not easy in the NHL,” Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom said. “So, I’m very impressed with the way he’s played so far.”