Leo Carlsson NHL contract and team competition

In late September 2026, Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson addressed his decision to sign a five-year, $90 million offer sheet from the Philadelphia Flyers. Carlsson explained that while he intended to stay with Anaheim, the scale of the financial offer made it difficult to decline, stating, “It’s just when that number pops up, it’s hard to say no in the situation I was in.” The Anaheim Ducks ultimately matched the offer sheet to retain the player.

By late October, the professional relationship between the two clubs transitioned to on-ice competition. In a matchup at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 24, the Anaheim Ducks defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 5-4, ending a five-game losing streak. This game marked Carlsson’s first appearance against Philadelphia since signing the contract; he played a pivotal role in the comeback victory by scoring a goal to ignite the rally and providing the assist on Beckett Sennecke’s third-period power-play goal, which served as the game-winner.

Other goals for the Ducks were scored by A.J. Greer, Judd Caulfield, and Tristan Luneau, while goaltender Lukas Dostal made 28 saves. The Flyers' early 2-0 lead was established via power-play goals from Matvei Michkov and Porter Martone.