The Philadelphia Flyers signed Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson to a five-year, $90 million offer sheet on July 3, putting Anaheim in the middle of one of the biggest decisions of the NHL offseason.
The Ducks now have until July 10 to decide whether to match the deal or let Carlsson walk to Philadelphia for draft-pick compensation. If Anaheim declines, the return would be four No. 1 picks.
Why this offer sheet matters
Offer sheets have become a more noticeable part of NHL free agency, and this one stands out because of both the player involved and the size of the contract. Carlsson was selected second overall by the Ducks in 2023, one spot ahead of Adam Fantilli, and he quickly became one of the most important young players in the organization.
Pat Verbeek is expected to match the Flyers' offer sheet, according to the source, but the structure of the deal still puts pressure on Anaheim to make a fast and costly choice. Matching would keep Carlsson in place as a core piece of the Ducks' future. Declining would bring a major haul in draft capital, but it would also mean moving on from a center the team valued enough to take near the top of the draft.
The move also adds to a growing list of offer sheet activity this offseason. On July 1, the New Jersey Devils signed Utah Mammoth forward Barrett Hayton to a one-year offer sheet worth $4.775 million, another sign that teams are willing to be more aggressive in a changing market.
What happens next for Anaheim
For the Ducks, the next week is all about timing. The July 10 deadline gives the front office a short window to decide whether Carlsson is worth the full commitment or whether the compensation is too good to pass up.
Either way, this is a significant moment for Anaheim. Carlsson has already become a central part of the team’s long-term plans, and the Flyers' offer sheet has now turned that future into a short-term decision.
