Anaheim Ducks face salary‑cap crunch after record Leo Carlsson contract
The NHL's Anaheim Ducks have entered a serious salary‑cap dilemma after signing Swedish forward Leo Carlsson to a five‑year, $90 million extension, which includes an $18 million annual salary – the highest ever in the league. Carlsson’s deal prompted the Philadelphia Flyers to submit an offer sheet, forcing the Ducks to decide whether to match the offer or lose the player in exchange for four first‑round draft picks.
The contract has also pushed up the projected salary for restricted‑free agent Cutter Gauthier, with analysts estimating a potential $16‑17 million per season. The Ducks currently have about $9 million of cap space left, while veteran Finnish forward Mikael Granlund remains under a $7 million contract for two more seasons.
These financial pressures could force the Ducks to make significant moves in the upcoming off‑season to stay under the league’s salary cap.
Entities
Anaheim Ducks · Cutter Gauthier · Leo Carlsson · Mikael Granlund · Philadelphia Flyers
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [DISPUTED] Anaheim Ducks signed Leo Carlsson to a five‑year, $90 million contract. www.hameensanomat.fi · www.ksml.fi · www.lansi-savo.fi
- [● 3 SOURCES] Mikael Granlund is under a $7 million contract for two more seasons. www.hameensanomat.fi · www.ksml.fi · www.lansi-savo.fi
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Carlsson contract has raised projected annual salary for Cutter Gauthier to $16‑17 million. www.hameensanomat.fi · www.ksml.fi · www.lansi-savo.fi
- [DISPUTED] The Ducks have approximately $9 million of salary‑cap space remaining. www.hameensanomat.fi · www.ksml.fi · www.lansi-savo.fi
- [DISPUTED] Philadelphia Flyers submitted an offer sheet to Leo Carlsson, requiring the Ducks to respond. www.hameensanomat.fi · www.ksml.fi · www.lansi-savo.fi
- [● 3 SOURCES] Leo Carlsson's annual salary is $18 million, the highest in NHL history. www.hameensanomat.fi · www.ksml.fi · www.lansi-savo.fi
- [● 3 SOURCES] Cutter Gauthier played 76 regular‑season games, scoring 69 points, and appeared in 12 playoff games at a point‑per‑game pace. www.hameensanomat.fi · www.ksml.fi · www.lansi-savo.fi
- [● 3 SOURCES] If the Ducks do not match the offer sheet, Leo Carlsson would be transferred to the Flyers in exchange for four first‑round draft picks. www.hameensanomat.fi · www.ksml.fi · www.lansi-savo.fi