Anaheim Ducks Match Flyers’ Record $90M Offer Sheet for Carlsson

The Anaheim Ducks have officially matched a five-year, $90 million offer sheet extended by the Philadelphia Flyers to center Leo Carlsson. The contract carries an average annual value (AAV) of $18 million, making it the richest in NHL history and positioning the 21-year-old as the highest-paid player in the league.

The agreement, which begins in the 2026-27 season and runs through the 2030-31 campaign, concludes a week-long period of uncertainty after the Flyers announced the offer on July 3. Had the Ducks declined to match, they would have been entitled to four first-round draft picks as compensation.

A Franchise Investment

Ducks General Manager Pat Verbeek stated that the organization has viewed Carlsson as a franchise player since meeting him prior to the 2023 draft. “We are very happy to have Leo under contract for five years,” Verbeek said. “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.”

The team’s owners, Henry and Susan Samueli, supported the decision, noting that they had maintained sufficient salary cap space to retain the center. “Matching the offer sheet was an easy decision,” the owners said in a statement. “We firmly believe he will continue his strong growth trajectory and become one of the truly elite centers in the league.”

Carlsson himself expressed his desire to remain in Anaheim, noting that while the financial terms were significant, his priority was staying with the team. “It was an offer that 99 percent of people would sign too,” Carlsson said. “I really wanted to be here, though. I really wanted them to match. I want to be an Anaheim Duck.”

Performance and Impact

The contract follows a breakout 2025-26 season for the 6-foot-3, 208-pound center. In 70 regular-season games, Carlsson set career highs with 29 goals and 38 assists for 67 points. He led the Ducks in points per game (.96) and was one of only three players in franchise history to post multiple 20-goal seasons before the age of 22.

Carlsson’s production remained consistent into the postseason, where he recorded 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 12 Stanley Cup Playoff games. He led all NHL players 21 and younger in postseason points and assists and co-led the Ducks in game-winning goals during their playoff run.

Financial and Roster Implications

The $18 million AAV surpasses the $17 million annual salary of Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov. Industry observers have noted that the contract will occupy 17.4 percent of the Ducks’ salary cap for the 2026-27 season.

The move arrives as the Ducks navigate a broader period of salary management. Reports indicate the team recently negotiated an extension with defenseman Pavel Mintyukov, signing him to a five-year deal worth $7.2 million per season. The organization also faces future contract considerations for other young core players, including forward Cutter Gauthier and rookie Beckett Sennecke.

The Flyers’ Search Continues

For the Philadelphia Flyers, the unsuccessful pursuit of Carlsson leaves a significant vacancy at the top of their lineup. General Manager Daniel Brière had sought to address the team’s need for a top-line center, but the organization remains focused on a roster that currently stands as the fourth-youngest in the NHL.

While the Flyers’ aggressive offer did not result in a roster change, the move highlights a broader trend in the league where offer sheets and the threat of them are increasingly utilized as mechanisms to influence team salary structures and talent acquisition.

Quick Facts: Leo Carlsson’s New Contract

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