Anaheim Ducks match Flyers' $90 M offer to retain Leo Carlsson

The Philadelphia Flyers submitted a hostile offer sheet worth $90 million over five years—$18 million per year—for Swedish forward Leo Carlsson. The Anaheim Ducks exercised their right to match the offer, keeping Carlsson on their roster.

Matching the contract forces the Ducks to accommodate the new salary cap hit, leaving them little flexibility for other players. Pavel Mintyukov and prospect Cutter Gauthier, who reportedly demands a contract no lower than Carlsson's (around $16.5 million per year), are now at the centre of further negotiations. The situation has also driven up market values for other Flyers players, as analysts note the ripple effect on contracts such as Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale.

The dispute highlights the high stakes of NHL offer sheets and the impact on team salary structures, with the Ducks absorbing the financial burden while the Flyers see limited benefit from the failed acquisition.