On Tuesday, Jan. 10, the American Hockey League (AHL) announced the rosters for the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic in San Jose, CA. The All-Star Classic will be held on February 4-5. Committees of AHL coaches determine the rosters, and at least one All-Star represents all 32 AHL teams. Each of the AHL’s four divisions will be represented by 12 players. For the Charlotte Checkers, it was a no-brainer that the defenseman Lucas Carlsson will represent the team in February.
Carlsson Proving of Selection
In 33 games for the 2023-24 season, Carlsson has tallied 10 goals and 25 points which leads the Checkers. He leads in all offensive categories for Charlotte including 15 assists and 131 shots. When it comes to points per game (Pt/G), he has 0.76. That is second on the team only behind Mackie Samoskevich who has 0.81 (in 27 games compared to Carlsson’s 33).
Carlsson is right now the most underrated player in the AHL for everything he does for the Checkers. For head coach Geordie Kinnear, Carlsson is the type of player that can be used in all situations. He gets ice time on the power play, penalty kill, and during important end of game shifts. Carlsson is tied for first in the AHL in shots with 131 alongside Henderson Silver Knights forward Sheldon Rempal. The next best defenseman in shots is Colorado Eagles’ Ben Hunt. Hunt has 111 compared to Carlsson’s 131.
You don’t see a defenseman leading the AHL in shots but for Carlsson to put up 131 in 33 games really points to the production of getting pucks on the net. Despite the Checkers being in 6th place in the Atlantic Division, Carlsson is having a solid season. To be fair to Charlotte, they are only four points out of second place that is occupied by the Providence Bruins. There is a chance for Charlotte to turn it around and cement themselves in a playoff spot.
Thoughts on Charlotte’s All-Star?
When asked about the selection of Lucas Carlsson to the AHL All-Star Classic, Checkers play-by-play announcer TJ Chillot stated:
Lucas Carlsson is the backbone of this Checkers team, on the blue-line and beyond. He plays in every situation – PP, PK, OT – and when the game is on the line, Carlsson is one of the guys you can count on. Off the ice, he’s the leader you want bringing up some of the younger guys. Stand up guy who gets it done on and off the ice.
TJ Chillot on Carlsson
Carlsson leads the team in almost all categories and just keeps getting better. He finished with 54 points in 61 games during the 2022-23 season and is projected to finish with 22 goals and 55 points in 72 games this season. Those could possibly be career highs in those two categories with assists being projected as one point shy of tying his best of 34.
Essentially, if Carlsson is hot, the Checkers are hot as well. They are within striking distance of putting themselves in a Calder Cup Playoffs spot with a chance of even getting up to the second place spot. There is a lot of hockey left. As long as Carlsson can keep putting up the production, playoff hockey will be back in the Queen City once again. But first, it’s time to honor the Swede who is representing the city and the franchise next month in California.
