NHL players will participate in the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 this February, the first time since 2014 the best players in the world will be on the Olympic stage. NHL.com will post a story each Monday to count down to the 2026 Olympics. Today, a look at Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson, who is emerging as a present and future star for Sweden.

A glimmer of potential shown by Leo Carlsson as an 18-year-old at the 2023 IIHF World Championship was enough of an audition for Sweden coach Sam Hallam to get excited for the future.

And Carlsson, now 20 and two seasons into his NHL career with the Anaheim Ducks, has begun to see that promise blossom.

"He was one of the players we took because he was available in the pre-camp before the Worlds and he was just like the best player

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