The Anaheim Ducks are keeping their prized young center Leo Carlsson — but it’s going to cost them dearly.
The organization announced Thursday that it will match the Philadelphia Flyers’ offer sheet for the 21-year-old, locking him into a five-year, $90 million contract. That $18 million average annual value makes Carlsson the highest-paid player in the entire NHL, edging out Minnesota’s Kirill Kaprizov, who was previously at the top at $17 million per year.
Carlsson had signed the Flyers’ offer sheet as a restricted free agent following a year of unsuccessful contract talks with Anaheim general manager Pat Verbeek. Verbeek’s typically firm stance in negotiations with restricted free agents backfired significantly in this case, as the deal Carlsson ultimately landed far exceeded what most around the league believed he would command — and even more than what Carlsson himself had reportedly been willing to accept.
Philadelphia’s general manager Danny Briere didn’t land the top-line center his team has been searching for, but the bold move demonstrated his willingness to do whatever it takes to strengthen his roster. Had Anaheim declined to match, the Ducks would have received four first-round draft picks from Philadelphia as compensation.
The unusual structure of the Flyers’ offer sheet also stood out — it front-loaded Carlsson’s contract with large signing bonuses, a departure from how most NHL deals are typically structured. The move may have lasting effects on how young NHL talent is valued in future negotiations.
While the Ducks managed to hold onto their most important young player, the saga has put Verbeek’s front office under a harsh spotlight. The general manager, who has kept Anaheim’s payroll well below the salary cap throughout his tenure, will now be spending owner Henry Samueli’s money right up against the cap ceiling next season. The league’s salary cap currently sits at $104 million and is projected to climb in the years ahead.
The situation comes on the heels of what had been a promising moment for the franchise — the Ducks ended a seven-year playoff absence last season with a second-round run that suggested they were becoming a genuine contender in the Western Conference.
Verbeek’s offseason troubles don’t stop with Carlsson. He has yet to sign 41-goal scorer Cutter Gauthier, another restricted free agent, though Gauthier is not eligible to receive an offer sheet. Verbeek did sign defenseman Pavel Mintyukov to a five-year, $36 million deal last week — again paying well above what the market expected for a restricted free agent — amid reports that Mintyukov was close to receiving an offer sheet of his own.
The Ducks also lost four key defensemen from last season — Jacob Trouba, captain Radko Gudas, Olen Zellweger, and late-season rental John Carlson — without making any notable replacements beyond veteran journeyman Nick Jensen. Additionally, Anaheim traded center Mason McTavish, a key part of the team for several seasons, to St. Louis in exchange for draft picks after McTavish struggled last year.
This pattern of contentious negotiations has become a defining characteristic of Verbeek’s tenure. Players Trevor Zegras, Jamie Drysdale, and McTavish all missed training camp in recent years due to unresolved contract disputes with Verbeek — and all three were eventually signed, then later traded away. Two of those trades involved the Flyers. Sending Drysdale to Philadelphia in a package for Gauthier drew praise, while giving up the high-scoring Zegras last summer drew criticism from Ducks fans.
Despite the drama surrounding his contract, Carlsson’s talent is not in question. Selected second overall in the 2023 draft — just behind Connor Bedard — he has quickly established himself as one of the game’s top young playmakers. Last season, he posted 67 points in 70 games even while missing a significant stretch due to a leg injury, and he added 11 points in 12 playoff games during his first postseason.
Though his point production hasn’t yet matched the level implied by his new salary, most observers believe he has the potential to become one of the best centers in hockey — meaning this deal could eventually look like a bargain. When the contract expires in 2031, Carlsson is expected to become an unrestricted free agent at just 26 years old, setting him up for yet another massive payday.
