NHL injury update: Leo Carlsson's Olympic eligibility questioned due to rare thigh injury

Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson is expected to miss three to five weeks due to a procedure on Friday to treat his left thigh injury, which has significantly endangered his prospects of making the Swedish lineup for the forthcoming Milan-Cortina Olympics.

Carlsson underwent a procedure in Los Angeles for a Morel-Lavallée lesion, a type of degloving injury in which the skin and fatty layer become detached from the fascia below, resulting in a fluid collection.

Anaheim Ducks’ Leo Carlsson out 3–5 weeks as thigh injury gets worse

Leo Carlsson underwent surgery in Los Angeles for a Morel-Lavallée lesion. This is a rare type of degloving injury, where the skin and fat are separated from the fascia below. A fluid cavity develops as a result. Ducks coach Joel Quenneville explained the injury had been deteriorating and needed urgent attention.

“I haven't heard exactly how he's doing right now, but I'm sure he's in the situation where he's going through the process and the procedure that he went through,” Anaheim coach Joel Quenneville said after the Ducks beat the Los Angeles Kings 3-2 in a shootout Friday night. "We wish him nothing but the best, and then have a great recovery and come back and help us out."

The 21-year-old, picked at No. 2 in the NHL Draft in 2023, is still Anaheim's leading scorer with 44 points through 44 games. He started the season with 38 points in the first 29 contests and picked up only six in the final 15 games.

“I don't know for how long, and then I think it progressively got worse,” Quenneville said. “It was one of those things that they had to nab it when they did today.”

Carlsson has been picked to represent Sweden, although, owing to the Olympics commencing in 3½ weeks, his chances are somewhat dicey. The biggest concern for fans remains: will there be a positive change soon, and will the Swedish center manage to recover before the big day?

Nevertheless, the Ducks proved to be a resilient team as they came back from a two-goal deficit to beat the Los Angeles Kings 3-2 in a shootout in the first match of a home-and-home Freeway Faceoff series.

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