The NHL faced a major shock after the Philadelphia Flyers made a very aggressive offer sheet to Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson. They offered him a five-year deal worth $90 million with an $18 million AAV.

This move quickly created a big standoff. The Anaheim Ducks must now decide whether to match the offer or take four first-round draft picks as compensation. The situation is not only about one star player. But it is also a major decision that could affect both teams for many years.

The strongest reaction came from NHL journalist Eric Engels on X. He pointed out that Anaheim would face serious internal pressure even if they chose to match the offer.

Engels wrote, “If you’re Anaheim, you match, you swallow the poison pill, and then its bitter aftertaste will be impossible to shed. Carlsson did nothing wrong, but there will always be some lingering frustration towards him from those above him—and even some around him.”

He said that even if the team looks united in public, they would still feel frustrated behind the scenes. This shows that such a big contract could cause long-term emotional and internal problems for the organization.

As per the official statement by the Flyers organization, “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.”

As noted by Ankit Kumar on The Big Lead, the team said that general manager Daniel Brière will not speak further until Anaheim makes its decision.

The size of the offer has already started a league-wide debate. Experts are saying it could affect future star contracts and salary cap planning.

Pressure beyond the contract decision

The impact is not limited to Anaheim’s locker room. It is also learnt from the same story by Ankit Kumar on The Big Lead that Sportsnet’s Kevin Weekes reported that the Ducks originally valued Leo Carlsson's extension at around $10 million to $12 million AAV, which is much lower than the Flyers’ offer. 

He also said other teams are watching the situation closely, showing that this is not just one bidding war but a wider change in how elite young centers are valued across the league.

The contract structure also makes things more complicated. TSN insider Darren Dreger reported that the deal is heavily front-loaded with large signing bonuses, including almost $20 million paid right after signing. 

This has raised concerns about how quickly Anaheim would need to pay the money, even with strong ownership. Former goalie Martin Biron also questioned whether teams can easily handle such a large short-term payment.

At the same time, analyst Andy Strickland said Anaheim likely has the cap space and financial strength to match, but the internal pressure would still be significant.

Even if the Ducks keep Leo Carlsson, this offer sheet could affect future contracts for players like Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini. It may change how NHL teams value young star players in the coming years.

No matter what Anaheim decides, the outcome will impact both teams for a long time. It could also change how the league values top young talent.

What do you think? Will the Ducks choose stability or take draft picks for the future? Let us know in the comments. 

Read more at the NHL Fan Central.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason