Overview
- The Anaheim Ducks matched Philadelphia’s five‑year, $90 million offer sheet on Thursday, July 9, 2026, signing Leo Carlsson to a deal with an $18 million average annual value that makes him the highest‑paid player by AAV in the NHL.
- Philadelphia structured the offer with heavy, front‑loaded signing bonuses — reported to be roughly $85 million of the total — to make a match more costly for Anaheim.
- After the match the Ducks have roughly $9 million of projected cap space, which will complicate contract talks for other young players such as Cutter Gauthier and increase the likelihood the club must trade veteran salary to clear room.
- The Flyers keep their four first‑round picks that would have been owed as compensation and retain roughly $29–30 million in cap flexibility to pursue extensions and other roster upgrades.
- Under NHL rules the Ducks cannot trade Carlsson for at least one year and the contract runs through 2030‑31, while the deal resets the market for elite young restricted free agents and could lift expected salaries around the league.