Flyers Analysts Reveal Team's Next Steps After Losing Out On Carlsson

As expected, the Anaheim Ducks have matched the Philadelphia Flyers' $18M offer sheet attempt at Leo Carlsson. The Ducks will now have to figure out how to balance their books going forward, and how to sign RFA Cutter Gauthier. 

As for the Flyers and GM Danny Briere, what are their next steps? Another offer sheet to try to find a first-line center? Adam Fantilli, perhaps? That's highly unlikely, according to two plugged-in Philly analysts. 

Briere can't start slinging offersheets across the league; he may already have a target on his back after the Carlsson one.

A Shane Wright does nothing to move the needle and, as Bill says here, focusing on your own talent until another opportunity arrises is the best play. https://t.co/AqGi6MsAJN

— Anthony Di Marco (@ADiMarco25) July 9, 2026

Anthony Di Marco of Daily Faceoff said "Briere can't start slinging offer sheets across the league; he may already have a target on his back after the Carlsson one... Relationships around the league matter."

NHL.com Flyers beat writer Bill Meltzer also says another bold offer sheet for a young star is not coming. 

No more 'offer sheet shopping' for Flyers this summer

"The Flyers' most immediate step will not be to find an alternate 1C target. Rather, I think the rest of the off-season will be pretty quiet unless there's a trade that develops under the radar."

Instead, he suggests they need to focus on what they're going to do with Matvei Michkov, who is eligible for an extension and can become an RFA next summer. And of course, Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale are RFAs that both need new contracts this offseason.

"The overall main focus likely shifts back to young players developing more," Meltzer added.

As far as any potential trades, he thinks the Flyers could look for "a stopgap defenseman for the 3rd pair at 5-on-5 and power play duty." He's not confident that David Jiricek is ready for those roles.

For good measure, insider David Pagnotta also mentioned on The Sheet today with Jeff Marek that the Flyers are not going offer sheet shopping anymore this summer.