Ducks Match $90M Offer Sheet to Retain Carlsson

The Anaheim Ducks matched a five-year $90 million offer sheet from the Philadelphia Flyers for Leo Carlsson on July 9 2026.

Verbeek’s Preemptive Commitment

Pat Verbeek stated publicly days before the tender that he would match any offer sheet for his number-one center. The Ducks general manager had left sufficient cap space to execute the match without further maneuvers. Flyers general manager Daniel Briere structured the deal with $85 million in signing bonuses and $39 million paid in the first twelve months. Verbeek’s earlier declaration removed any uncertainty and forced Philadelphia to accept the likely outcome.

Ducks owners Henry and Susan Samueli confirmed the decision aligned with long-term plans for Carlsson as a franchise player. The owners cited his growth trajectory and community impact as reasons for the commitment. In 201 regular-season games Carlsson produced 141 points including 61 goals and 80 assists. Those totals established him as the cornerstone the 2023 second-overall pick was drafted to become.

Player and League Reaction

Leo Carlsson told media the offer was one 99 percent of players would sign yet he wanted Anaheim to match. The 22-year-old center recorded 11 points in 12 playoff games during his first postseason. Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period and Anthony Di Marco of Daily Faceoff both predicted the match on TSN Radio citing league-wide expectations.

The Utah Mammoth had matched a similar offer sheet for Barrett Hayton one day earlier illustrating the mechanism’s use across the league. Bill Armstrong noted the offer sheet remains a standard CBA tool with no lingering friction. Carlsson reiterated his desire to remain in Anaheim and continue building with the organization.

Immediate Roster Implications

The Ducks must now extend restricted free agent forward Cutter Gauthier and create additional cap room for the $18 million annual average value. The new contract elevates Carlsson’s compensation by $5 million to $6 million above Anaheim’s prior internal offer. Verbeek’s preparation avoided a sudden crunch yet still requires further roster adjustments before the 2026-27 season.

The Samuelis emphasized high expectations for continued elite performance at center. Carlsson’s retention preserves the core the Ducks have built since selecting him second overall in 2023.