Ducks Lock In Leo Carlsson Through 2030-31 After Matching Flyers' $90 Million Offer Sheet
Updated
Updated · NHL.com · Jul 9
Ducks Lock In Leo Carlsson Through 2030-31 After Matching Flyers' $90 Million Offer Sheet
3 articles · Updated · NHL.com · Jul 9
Summary
$90 million kept Leo Carlsson in Anaheim through 2030-31, with GM Pat Verbeek saying the Ducks never doubted they would match Philadelphia's offer.
Six days of internal review followed because the alternative was four first-round picks, and Verbeek said the club explored its options before deciding Carlsson was too important to lose.
Verbeek said Anaheim had expected a possible offer sheet after talks slowed before July 1, but not one this rich; he argued a rising cap and Carlsson's projected growth justify the $18 million annual hit.
The deal makes the 21-year-old the NHL's highest-paid player for now and could reshape restricted-free-agent negotiations across the league as teams adjust to higher cap space.
Anaheim now turns to signing Cutter Gauthier, with Verbeek saying he has roughly 2.5 months to make the roster fit around the Ducks' young core.