Leo Carlsson stepped onto home ice in Anaheim as the NHL's highest-paid player, and the Ducks crowd had a decision to make.
Some wondered how fans would greet a 21-year-old carrying an $18,000,000 cap hit. Big contracts can turn a crowd cold in a hurry.
Not this crowd. Carlsson and new captain Mikael Granlund got a big ovation when they were introduced for the home opener.
That answer said plenty about where Anaheim stands with its young star. Fans see the money as a commitment to the future rather than a burden.
He gave them reason to believe in the opener, scoring the game-winner and adding an assist in a 4-3 win in Vegas.
In the clip, Carlsson and Granlund are introduced to the home crowd, and the building answers with a loud, long ovation.
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Mikael Granlund wears the C as Joel Quenneville's Ducks open at home
Granlund, 34, takes over as captain with a $7,000,000 cap hit and an assist already on the board.
The pairing makes sense. A veteran captain to steady the room, and a 21-year-old star to drive it forward.
Anaheim got it right. Booing a young player for signing the deal his own team offered would have been pointless, and this crowd understood that.
It's like a homeowner who just signed a massive mortgage and still smiles every time they pull into the driveway.
The Ducks host Edmonton on Wednesday. Steve Peters has already raised concerns about this young blue line, so Carlsson's line may need to keep scoring.
The welcome was warm. Keeping it that way will depend on whether Carlsson's production keeps matching the number on his contract.
Is Leo Carlsson worth his $18 million cap hit?
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