Flyers submit $90M offer sheet for Leo Carlsson

The Philadelphia Flyers have made a seismic move in the NHL offseason, signing Anaheim Ducks restricted free agent center Leo Carlsson to a five-year, $90 million offer sheet on Friday, July 3, 2026. The contract carries an average annual value of $18 million, which would make the 21-year-old the highest-paid player in the league by cap hit.

The Ducks now have seven days to decide whether to match the offer and retain Carlsson or let him join Philadelphia in exchange for four first-round draft picks as compensation. The move directly challenges Anaheim management, which had previously stated it would match any offer sheet for its young star.

Carlsson, the second overall pick in the 2023 draft, is coming off a breakout season where he recorded 29 goals and 67 points in 70 games, adding 11 points in 12 playoff contests. His proposed $18 million cap hit would surpass the current record of $17 million held by Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov and is significantly higher than the salaries of established superstars like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

Flyers General Manager Danny Briere’s aggressive play addresses a longstanding organizational need for a franchise center. If...