(Buffalo) Leo Carlsson has always stuttered. “It was worse when I was younger. In Swedish, I stutter less and less, but it’s worse in English, because I’m less comfortable in this language. It’s part of me and I can’t help it. »
The Swedish center, ranked No. 1 European prospect by the NHL Central Scouting, meets 11 teams this week at the evaluation camp for the draft. Interviews that obviously take place in English.
His stuttering, a speech disorder that affects 10% of children, but which persists into adulthood for 1% of the population1, therefore emerges during these interviews. Has he been told about it?
“We talked about it during my interview with the Canadian, he tells La Presse, in the corner of a hotel lobby. Someone in the room was saying that he needed advice for a young person he knows, a neighbor, I believe. The other teams haven’t told me about it. »
And his advice? “Take your time, try to speak slowly.” Myself, I don’t always do it! But that’s the best advice I can give,” explained the likeable forward.
On the hockey side, the interesting aspect of his story is that the Habs go all the way with him. In the eyes of many, Carlsson will have already found a buyer when the Canadian takes the podium in 5th place, on June 28 in Nashville. The colleagues Bob McKenzie (TSN), Craig Button (TSN) and Sam Cosentino (Sportsnet) all rank him 3rd hope of this repechage. And who knows if the Ducks, holders of the 2nd choice, have not fallen in love with this colossus of 6’3″, 198 lb?
Would he like the Canadian to complete such a transaction? ” Of course ! It’s a great organization with a long history,” he replies.
He is more hesitant when asked which Habs player he admired when he was younger. After some thought, he eventually nominates P. K. Subban and Cole Caufield. In his defense, the CH has historically turned very little to Sweden, with the exception of Mats Naslund. Behind the “little Viking”, Peter Popovic ranks 2nd for games played by Swedes in the history of the team.
The bond between Will Smith and the Canadian is more natural. The story is becoming well known, but the Boston-area forward had Kent Hughes as a minor hockey coach, then as a “counsellor,” the coy term used to describe player agents who go to the NCAA.
Anyway, Smith has known Hughes since he was 13, he said.
“He was one of the best coaches I’ve had,” he tells us, still in the same corner of the hotel. He was the first coach who challenged me to play well in all three zones. He made me realize that if I want to play in the National League and be successful with the national team, I have to be good at all aspects of the game.”
Like Carlsson, Smith was also interviewed by the Habs, one of 15 teams requesting a meeting with him. The Sabres, who hold the 13th choice, were also to meet him: they were the ones who were waiting for him after our interview. In short, several organizations want to get to know players they theoretically have no chance of picking up.
“I get asked about the toughest players to play against, and a few questions about my teammates on the US national program,” Smith explained.
Smith formed an ultra-dominant line with Gabriel Perreault and Ryan Leonard this season with the American program. Asked about Leonard, the 5th North American prospect according to the NHL Central, Hughes was complimentary.
“You just have to see him play and his strength comes out quickly. He plays in the style of Matthew Tkachuk, Brady Tkachuk, physically aggressive, very intense, he always brings his effort”, analyzed the DG. Anyway, if he has an eye on Leonard, talking to Smith isn’t the worst idea.
In addition, the 2022 draft is possibly the best warning to remind you that anything can happen at these auctions. Shane Wright, long seen as the consensus 1st choice, had ended up slipping to 4th, where the Seattle Kraken had selected him.