Would Flyers Offer Sheet Fantilli If Ducks Match Carlsson Offer? Insider Has The Answer

The Anaheim Ducks have until Friday to decide if they are matching the bombshell $18M AAV offer sheet the Philadelphia Flyers dropped on Leo Carlsson last week. Many insiders around hockey say they can't see a world where the Ducks don't match. 

If that's the case, where do the Flyers and GM Danny Briere turn next? Many are suggesting that Philly might see Columbus Blue Jackets' RFA Adam Fantilli as a Plan B offer sheet. Anthony Di Marco of Daily Faceoff has an answer for that:

There have been several people asking about Columbus Blue Jackets forward Adam Fantilli as a potential offer sheet option for the Flyers if all else fails. According to sources that Daily Faceoff checked in with last week, that isn’t in the cards. 

Di Marco then goes on to name three factors that would play into the Flyers' reluctance to offer sheet Fantilli:

1. "The Flyers don’t view Fantilli as worth the same money/risk as Carlsson." Fantilli, who was drafted right after Carlsson, with the #3 pick in the 2023 Draft, finished this past season with 24 goals and 59 points in 82 games. He's a tremendous talent, no doubt, and the Jackets are lucky to have him. But Carlsson put up 0.96 points per game, while Fantilli put up 0.72 ppg. Carlsson also showed an ability to step up in the playoffs, with 11 points in 12 games. 

2. "For Flyers GM Danny Briere, going around offer sheeting anyone and everyone may be a quick way to burn bridges across the NHL," writes Di Marco, noting that keeping good relationships with other GMs is important.

3. Briere also has to consider that his son, Cam Briere, is a video coach with the Blue Jackets.

The Flyers may have to find another way to bring in a top-line center if the Ducks match their bully offer to Carlsson.