Bold Proposal Would See Ducks Lose Carlsson But Gain Two Top-6 Centers

The Anaheim Ducks are faced with a massive dilemma this week: To match, or not to match, the insane $18 million AAV offer sheet signed by Leo Carlsson with the Philadelphia Flyers. 

If they choose not to match, the Flyers would have to send their next four first-round picks in the NHL Draft to the Ducks as compensation. It's still a good bet for Philly, as none of those mid-to-lower-first-round picks will come close to being another Leo Carlsson. It's the old 'best player in the deal wins the trade' theory. 

One Vancouver Canucks fan account, however, has proposed a stunning three-team trade idea that would see the Ducks make the best of this situation. And though they would lose Carlsson, they would gain two top-six centers in return. 

Intriguing idea:

Anaheim doesn't match Leo's offer sheet and receives 4 1sts.

They flip 2027, 2028 to Detroit + a high end prospect (McQueen) for Larkin

Then flip 2029, 2030 1sts to Vancouver for Elias Pettersson

Turn what could be $18M for Leo into $20M for Larkin & Petey

— Canucks War Room (@CanucksWarRoom) July 5, 2026

Step 1: The Ducks don't match and take the four firsts.  

Step 2: Ducks flip 2027 & '28 first-rounders to the Detroit Red Wings, plus a high-end prospect (Roger McQueen suggested) in exchange for Dylan Larkin.

Step 3: Ducks flip 2029 & '30 first-rounders to the Vancouver Canucks for Elias Pettersson. 

When all is totaled, cap-wise, assuming there is no retention, the Ducks would be paying $20.3 million for two top-six centers, as opposed to $18 million for Carlsson.

Although this is just a fan account making this proposed blockbuster, it captured the attention of notable Athletic senior writer Thomas Drance, who called the concept "legit, fun and shocking."

Legit fun/shocking reasonable concept, well done.

— Thomas Drance (@ThomasDrance) July 5, 2026

Whether Detroit and Vancouver would be a party to this idea is, of course, unknown. Perhaps someone should send this along to Ducks GM Pat Verbeek so he can get on it. 

As for Larkin, he has officially asked the Red Wings to trade him, and with what is now an extremely affordable $8.7 million cap hit for the next five seasons, he would be a tremendous addition to the top line in Anaheim, while the hope is that Pettersson, who has had two straight dreadful years with his bloated $11.6 million cap hit, would regain his offensive skills in an exciting new environment.