Ducks star Leo Carlsson out with thigh injury, could miss Olympics

The Ducks will be without leading scorer Leo Carlsson until after the Olympic break after the center underwent surgery to treat a left thigh injury Friday. A team spokesperson said he is expected to miss three to five weeks, also casting doubt on his participation in the Milan Cortina Olympics next month.

Carlsson, 21, had a team-high 44 points with 18 goals and 26 assists heading into Friday’s rivalry game with the Kings at Crypto.com Arena. He did not play in the Ducks’ 3-1 win over Dallas on Tuesday.

Carlsson, a Swede, is one of four Ducks selected to compete in the Winter Games. Sweden is scheduled to open play on February 11 and the knockout stage will begin on February 17.

His injury, known as a Morel-Lavallée lesion, is a rare degloving-related condition in which skin and fat separate from the fascia tissue, leaving a fluid-filled space. The second overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, Carlsson had 20 goals and 45 points last season.

The Ducks entered Friday having won just one of their last 10 games to fall to sixth in the Pacific Division.