Shocking $18M AAV Offer Sheet Tendered To Leo Carlsson
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. https://t.co/nfhD4h6nEc
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) July 3, 2026
If the Ducks don't match, Philly will have to send their next four first-round picks to Anaheim as compensation.
But either way, Carlsson is about to become the highest-paid player in NHL history. At least, perhaps until Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini sign their extensions.
According to Elliotte Friedman, the Ducks have already indicated that they would match any offer sheet coming Carlsson's way. He added that the reason the Ducks haven’t made many big moves yet in free agency is to make sure to be in a safe cap position.
But $18M AAV? Bet they weren't expecting that. Anaheim has seven days to match. Insider Andy Strickland says, even at $18M, it's a "no-brainer."
Anaheim Ducks have cap space and the wealthiest owner in the #NHL in Henry Samueli. It’s a no brainer to match
— Andy Strickland (@andystrickland) July 3, 2026
The Ducks had about $35 million in cap space, per PuckPedia, before this offer sheet.
As for the Flyers, they have about $29 million in cap space, so they also have the room to make this deal happen.
Is Leo Carlsson worth $18 million AAV?
Carlsson is a very, very good young center. But he's not at the superstar 'highest paid player in the league' level just yet. The Ducks' top-line center had 29 goals and 67 points in 70 games this past season. He added 11 points in 12 playoff games, as he helped lead Anaheim back to the postseason for the first time in eight years.
The 21-year-old was the No. 2 pick of the 2023 NHL Draft and has lived up to that billing.
It's worth noting that the Flyers and Ducks have had a nice relationship in recent years, having completed a number of notable deals. Philly sent Cutter Gauthier to the Ducks in exchange for Jamie Drysdale in 2024, and last year, Anaheim sent Trevor Zegras to the City of Brotherly Love in a trade in exchange for Ryan Poehling and two draft picks. Gotta wonder if that relationship is going to go a little icy after this offer sheet move by Briere.
Gauthier, by the way, is also an RFA, but he is not eligible for an offer sheet. He is, however, eligible for another massive amount on his new deal, which just went up quite a bit, courtesy of the Flyers.
