Carlsson or Fantilli Who Will Take The Bigger Leap?

The second-year player everyone has their eyes on is Connor Bedard. It makes sense. He’s a generational talent and after a strong rookie season, he looks to establish himself as one of the best in the NHL. 

Bedard is the headliner from the 2023 draft class yet the second and third overall picks have a lot of talent as well and can’t be ignored. Those players are Leo Carlsson of the Anaheim Ducks and Adam Fantilli of the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

The question is which of those two skaters will have a better sophomore season? They both have plenty of room to improve and this can be the year they make their marks as two of the best as well.

The Case For Carlsson

Carlsson showed flashes last season in the 55 games he played. He only scored 12 goals and 17 assists but he provided a spark every time he was on the ice. He has that burst of speed from the center position and better yet, a shot that can make him elite. 

He’ll also get a lot of help from the youth movement that the Ducks have going for them. Along with Carlsson, they have Cutter Gauthier in his second season and defenseman Pavel Mintyukov heading into year two. Pair that with plenty of young skaters already on the roster and all the pieces are in place for Carlsson to have a great season. 

There’s also the hot streaks which can be a criticism (he’s inconsistent) but a reminder that when he gets going, he’s tough to stop. Carlsson scored six goals in his first 10 games. He also went 22 games in a row without scoring a goal. To wrap up his rookie season, he scored three goals and two assists in the final seven games. So, there will be highs and lows.

The Case For Fantilli

There was an argument heading into the 2023 draft that Fantilli was the second-best prospect in the class. His rookie season didn’t make a great argument as he battled injuries and played only 49 games. Otherwise, when he was on the ice, he showed why he could be an elite player. 

Fantilli scored 12 goals and 15 assists but those stats don’t do him justice. The two-way center does it all as he wins with speed, passing, playmaking, a quick release, and great defense. He does it all on the ice.

Moreover, he can play well regardless of who is on his line. The Blue Jackets didn’t have a great supporting cast last season and aside from Johnny Gaudreau, they won’t have a great one this season either. Yet, he’ll continue to make a big impact.

Who Has The Edge?

Carlsson will likely have the better numbers by the end of the season. The Ducks aren’t a better team but they have more complimentary pieces, notably faster and younger skaters, to help him out. 

That said, Fantilli looks to be the more impactful forward. He will do more with less and more importantly, he’ll be the reason the Blue Jackets are competitive next season. Fantilli will be one of those skaters who will often go unnoticed but by the end of the day, will put together a better sophomore season.