The Ducks have been one of the pleasant surprises through the first month and a bit of the season. After coming up well short of a playoff spot for the past several years, they enter play tonight sitting atop the Pacific Division.

A big reason for that has been the play of center Leo Carlsson . The third-year player is among the NHL’s top scorers in the early going, recording 11 goals and 15 assists through Anaheim’s first 16 games; his 26 points are tied for the second-most in the league.

The timing for that offensive breakout is certainly ideal for Carlsson. He’s slated to become a restricted free agent next summer and this type of production will only be sending the price tag upward. But it doesn’t appear as if the Ducks or Carlsson are in any rush to start substantive discuss

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