Top young centers on cusp discussed by NHL.com

When looking at Carlsson, who has the size (6-foot-3, 194 pounds), reach, 200-foot game, hockey sense, and want to attack the middle of the ice, to be a play driver, it begs the question I am struggling to answer. What can’t he do? The 19-year-old got his feet wet in the NHL last season with 29 points (12 goals, 17 assists) in 55 games. Carlsson missed time early in the season because of planned scratches, in December because of a sprained MCL in his right knee, and in March because of a concussion. But what we saw in 55 games from Carlsson, who was the No. 2 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, was enough to convince me that he has it all, that he might be the next Anze Kopitar in the NHL. He’s big and plays every inch of the ice. He’s smart with his reads, strong on his skates and quick in transition. He plays on the power play and has the ability to do so on the penalty kill. He scores, distributes and can hit. Maybe he can’t stop the puck like John Gibson, but that’s about it. He’s a future star, and his future is now. — Dan Rosen, senior writer