Big drama and unprecedented money have hit the NHL offseason player market.
A fairly conventional beginning to the league’s free-agent window, marked in part by Alex Ovechkin’s return to Washington, took a significant turn with the Flyers’ offer sheet for Ducks center Leo Carlsson.
The Flyers have tendered an offer sheet for Carlsson—a 21-year-old restricted free agent thought to be entering his professional prime—worth $90 million over five years. The average annual value of $18 million sets a new league record, surpassing the $17 million AAV for Wild star Kirill Kaprizov that goes into effect beginning with the 2026–27 season.
The Ducks now have a pivotal choice to make by 3 p.m. ET Friday. Their two options include:
Match the Flyers’ offer and retain Carlsson at the unprecedented figure. Thanks to a league record $104 million salary cap for the forthcoming season, keeping Carlsson would still leave the Ducks with nearly $10 million in cap space. Anaheim, however, would see Carlsson soak up more than 17% of their total cap. The Ducks are also obligated to match the specific terms of the Flyers’ offer, which is significantly front-loaded and based heavily on signing bonuses, including one for the upcoming season of nearly $20 million.
