The Anaheim Ducks have matched the Philadelphia Flyers' offer sheet for center Leo Carlsson, securing the 21-year-old as the NHL's highest-paid player with an $18 million average annual value (AAV) over five years. The decision, announced Thursday, ensures Carlsson remains with the Ducks through the 2030-31 season, but at a steep financial cost that includes signing bonuses pushing his first-year payout to nearly $21 million.
Offer Sheet Triggers Salary Surge
The offer sheet, signed by Carlsson with the Flyers, forced the Ducks to either match or accept four first-round draft picks over the next five years. Anaheim general manager Pat Verbeek, unable to reach a deal with the restricted free agent earlier, faced a difficult choice. The alternative would have risked derailing the Ducks' playoff momentum, which Carlsson helped reignite with a 29-goal, 67-point regular season and a first-round playoff win over the Edmonton Oilers last year.
Carlsson, selected second overall in the 2023 NHL Draft behind Connor Bedard, set new single-season career highs in points and became the first Duck aged 21 or younger to reach 50 career goals and 100 points. He added 11 points in 12 playoff games as Anaheim advanced to the second round. His new deal is expected to drive up salaries for franchise players across the league, as comparable stars will seek similar compensation.
Ducks Ownership Backs the Move
Team owners Henry and Susan Samueli publicly supported Verbeek's decision, stating in a release: "Matching the offer sheet was an easy decision, as Pat has intelligently left enough cap space to give us the ability to retain Leo. We have extremely high expectations for Leo. We firmly believe he will continue his strong growth trajectory and become one of the truly elite centers in the league, while continuing to make a strong impact in our community."
Verbeek echoed that sentiment: "We have viewed Leo as a franchise player since the moment we met him prior to the 2023 draft. He’s a character person on and off the ice. Leo is viewed as a top player in this league, and it was always our intention to match any offer sheet."
Cap Challenges Ahead
Despite the salary cap's projected rise, the Ducks face financial strain. Forward Cutter Gauthier and other players are due for new contracts, and Carlsson's massive deal will limit flexibility. The offer sheet—the fourth in two years as teams seek quick roster fixes—was orchestrated by Flyers general manager Danny Briere, who put Verbeek in a bind by tying up significant cap space. Briere's move aims to break Philadelphia's long Cup drought, but it has strained relations between the two GMs.
Carlsson acknowledged the difficulty of turning down the offer: "It was kind of an offer that I think everyone would sign. When you see that number, it’s hard to say no … My team, they understand, too, completely. They would have done the same thing."
