Ducks Match Record-Setting Offer Sheet, Keep Leo Carlsson

The Anaheim Ducks have matched the Philadelphia Flyers’ five-year, $90 million offer sheet for restricted free agent center Leo Carlsson, retaining their 21-year-old franchise player ahead of Friday’s deadline.

“Matching the offer sheet was an easy decision, as Pat has intelligently left enough cap space to give us the ability to retain Leo,” said Ducks owners Henry and Susan Samueli. “We have extremely high expectations for Leo. We firmly believe he will continue his strong growth trajectory and become one of the truly elite centers in the league, while continuing to make a strong impact in our community.”

Five more years of LEO!https://t.co/3uscSK2GmJ

— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) July 9, 2026

The deal carries a league-record $18 million average annual value, surpassing Kirill Kaprizov’s previous high of $17 million with Minnesota. Carlsson set career highs last season with 29 goals, 38 assists, and 67 points in 70 games, and the contract structure loads most of his salary into signing bonuses, with a full no-movement clause kicking in for the final year in 2030-31.

By matching, the Ducks avoid sending Carlsson to Philadelphia, which will keep the four first-round picks that would have gone to Anaheim as compensation had Anaheim declined. The move comes after Anaheim had already locked up defenseman Pavel Mintyukov on a five-year, $7.2 million deal, leaving general manager Pat Verbeek to navigate a tightening cap picture with restricted free agents Cutter Gauthier and Tyson Hinds still unsigned.

Matching also means Carlsson can’t be traded until July 1, 2027, giving the Ducks certainty around their young center as they look to build a competitive roster around him.

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