Dear Ducks Fans

It has really been an interesting last few months, and I’m so incredibly excited going into my fourth season in Anaheim. 

The contract negotiations over the summer were a lot to deal with for everybody, but when all is said and done, Anaheim is ultimately where I want to be for the rest of my life. That to me was always a no-brainer. This was a unique situation, but I of course always wanted to be here.  

During the talks over the summer, we always said we wanted to stay with the Ducks. It’s just when that number pops up, it’s hard to say no in the situation I was in. That’s something I hope everybody understands. It was obviously hard thinking about how I could possibly leave here and not knowing where I’m going to go. But I’m so glad it all worked out. 

My teammates have been very supportive through all of this, and it’s been great being back with them again. We see each other more as friends here than teammates, which is a great feeling. 

I love living in Orange County, and it’s where I want to be for the rest of my life. I live close to the beach in Newport Beach, and I love the weather, the people, the environment, the great restaurants and everything that makes Southern California special. It’s just so relaxed out here, and people are so friendly. I love everything about it. 

I tried not to read too much about it when all of this is going on. I’m not on Twitter anymore, but I’m still on Instagram, and it can be hard to avoid it. I would get DMs and stuff, and there was some negative stuff, but that doesn’t affect me at all. It’s mostly from people I’m never going to listen to advice from, for the most part. I usually just laugh at it and move on.

I think the way I grew up made me tougher and forced me to become an adult at a young age. When I was 15 years old, I moved from my hometown in Karlstad, Sweden to play in a town called Örebro. A lot of junior players in Canada and other countries live with billet families, but I lived in a home by myself, like a few other players around my age on the team. We had to learn to do a lot of things for ourselves. The other younger players and I would cook for each other and hang out a lot. 

It was only an hour car drive away from my family, and I got a lot of help from my parents in that first year, but it was still a big adjustment at that age. You’re still a kid, so it’s tough, not as much physically but more so mentally. I really developed as a hockey player and a person, especially competing against grown adults by the time I was 16. Playing against older guys and then coming here to the NHL, it was less of a transition than it might be for other players. I think it was a lot easier for me just by the way I was brought up in the game. 

It was right around 16 I thought I might have a chance to play in the NHL. It was crazy to think about at the time, but playing with that caliber of players made me feel like I could take my game to the next level, because I had pretty good years when I was 16 and 17. 

But when the Ducks drafted me second overall in 2023, it surprised a lot of people, including me to a certain extent. I had a meeting with them on Draft day, and I remember thinking it was 60/40 that it was not going to be me, and I’d go probably third. I wanted them to draft me, but I didn’t want to get my expectations too high. But when they called my name, it was such a special moment for me and my family. I was so happy they took me, but I tried to keep calm when I walked to that stage and met everybody from the Ducks. 

Some guys flip a switch and have different personalities off the ice and on it, but I’m pretty low-key both ways – just a little more aggressive on the ice than off it. I don’t talk a lot on the ice because I think I play my best when I’m calm. Also, my English is pretty strong, but when I’m playing it’s not as good. I can’t really come up with good chirps on the ice, even in Swedish. I always tell myself to just focus on the game, and if they talk trash to me, it’s usually just fuel for me.

I’ve dealt with a stutter my entire life, but it’s gotten better since I got to the States and started working with a speech therapist. I remember it was tough when I was giving presentations and speaking in front of the class in school, but nobody really bullied me about it or anything. I'm lucky in that department. It was never something I was embarrassed about when I was a kid, and I don’t mind talking about it at all.

It was a bit harder to manage when I was on camera, plus I’m speaking English more than I ever did in Sweden. I’m also a fast talker, just like my dad, so I need to slow things down sometimes. At times in my mind I think I’m talking slowly on camera, and then I watch it back and it’s super fast. But I’ve gotten help with speaking on camera or in interviews. It still doesn’t bother me if I do it, since everybody knows about it and they really don’t care. 

I’ve come to realize that by being open about it, I can help a lot of people. I’ve had the opportunity to bring some kids who stutter to Ducks games, and it’s been so great meeting them and seeing the looks on their faces. Even if they’re not hockey fans, I feel like if they see someone like me who stutters and has dealt with it and been successful, they know they can do it too. It’s nice to know I help a lot of kids gain that confidence.

People have asked if I feel the pressure to be one of the best players in the game, and I don’t really think about it that way. My first goal is to make our team as successful as possible – make the playoffs, win games, win series, win the Stanley Cup. The individual stuff just comes if you really want to win. Winning is the first priority.

Getting that first taste of the playoffs last year and being in that atmosphere was just so cool. Our fans are so great all year, but things went up a notch in the playoffs and they were so incredible. It was an awesome feeling winning that first series, and the crowds were insane and so dialed in. It makes you just want to be there again and again and go further and further. That’s why we play this game. 

I’m super excited to see all of the fans again, and I want you to know how pumped I am to be back here. I really miss you during the offseason and just miss that adrenaline you give us. I’m just super excited to be back and be part of what’s to come with this team. 

Let’s go Ducks! 

- Leo