Anaheim Ducks match Flyers' offer, retain Leo Carlsson as NHL's top earner

The Anaheim Ducks matched the Philadelphia Flyers’ five‑year, $90 million offer sheet for restricted‑free‑agent center Leo Carlsson. The contract carries an $18 million average annual value, making Carlsson the highest‑paid player in NHL history, surpassing Minnesota’s Kirill Kaprizov. The deal runs through the 2030‑31 season and ties up roughly 17‑18% of Anaheim’s salary cap.

Carlsson, the 21‑year‑old Swedish winger drafted second overall in 2023, posted career‑high numbers last season with 67 points (29 goals, 38 assists) in 70 games and added 11 points in 12 playoff games. Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said the organization had always intended to match any offer sheet, and owners Henry and Susan Samueli praised the decision, calling it an easy choice.

Had the Ducks declined, they would have received four first‑round draft picks from Philadelphia. The commitment limits the Ducks’ cap flexibility for other pending restricted free agents such as Cutter Gauthier, but the team views Carlsson as a cornerstone of a potential Stanley Cup run.