Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman had been hinting that offer sheets could be coming this offseason, and on Friday he was proven right in a massive way.
The Philadelphia Flyers shook the hockey world with this post on X (formerly Twitter):
“We have tendered an offer sheet to Anaheim center Leo Carlsson. The offer is a five-year contract worth an average annual value (AAV) of $18M, which would require four of the Flyers first-round draft picks in each of the next four seasons as compensation,”
A five-year, $90 million offer sheet worth $18 million per season for Leo Carlsson has now put the Anaheim Ducks in a bind, forcing them to decide whether to match the monstrous contract and keep their franchise player or let him go for four first-round picks.
TSN insider Darren Dreger has since revealed that Philadelphia was one of four teams to present Carlsson with an offer sheet, highlighting just how much interest there was in the young star center.
“This will certainly juice the market according to several player agents. Carlsson had 4 teams present Offer Sheets and several who shard a high level of interest,”
The 21-year-old Carlsson was an RFA after finishing out the third and final year of the three-year, $2.85 million entry-level contract he signed with the Ducks in 2023. He racked up a career-high 67 points (29 goals, 38 assists) in just 70 games last season.
Reports have suggested that Anaheim kept itself flexible in case of an offer sheet for Carlsson, ensuring it would match one no matter what.
That remains the most likely outcome, however, GM Pat Verbeek has never been an easy negotiator, and it’s fair to wonder whether Carlsson accepting the offer has ruffled some feathers. Not to mention the fact that he would become the highest-paid player in the league under the new deal, is he willing to stomach that?
It sets up be a fascinating week to now see if more offer sheets are signed around the NHL before we ultimately learn Carlsson’s fate.
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