Ducks take Carlsson over Fantilli with No. 2 pick of NHL draft - ESPN

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Anaheim Ducks made it known they were going to take a center with the second pick of Thursday night's NHL draft, but they kept whom they were going to select a secret.

Many considered University of Michigan freshman Adam Fantilli the favorite, but the Ducks instead opted to take Orebro HK center Leo Carlsson, presenting the first bit of intrigue on draft night after the Chicago Blackhawks used the No. 1 overall pick on Regina Pats center Connor Bedard.

«I had a meeting with the Ducks yesterday,» Carlsson told reporters after he was drafted. «I had a good feeling.»

Fantilli didn't have to wait long to hear his name, with the Columbus Blue Jackets drafting him with the third pick. He said he had no idea whom the Ducks were going to draft until he heard Carlsson's name called.

«There are a lot of phenomenal hockey players in this draft and a lot of guys deserve to go as high as they possibly can,» Fantilli said about not going second to the Ducks. «Leo's a phenomenal hockey player. He's a great kid, and I wish him the absolute best. Getting to know him was awesome, in Vegas [at the Stanley Cup Final] and at the combine. It was really, really cool to meet him. So, I wish him the best and I'm pumped for him.»

Whomever the Ducks took second, he was going to join a rebuilding team for which promise has been a selling point. Leading that rebuild are players such as Jamie Drysdale, Mason McTavish, Troy Terry and Trevor Zegras. The Ducks' farm system is also believed to be one of the strongest in the NHL.

Carlsson expressed excitement over the prospect of playing alongside McTavish and Zegras.

«It's going to be real,» he said. «Two skillful players for sure. I think it's going to be easy for me to play with