The Philadelphia Flyers shocked the NHL world, which was saying something considering how chaotic this offseason has been. Last week, the Flyers signed Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson to an offer sheet that would pay him $18 million per year over a five-year span, making him the highest paid player in hockey. It was a true bombshell, leaving the Ducks and their general manager Pat Verbeek with the tough decision to either match the Flyers' offer or take four first round picks instead.
The Ducks had until Friday to make a decision, and they opted to do so one day before the deadline.
On Thursday, the Ducks officially announced that they have matched the Flyers' offer and will officially sign Carlsson to a five-year, $90 million contract extension.
Five more years of LEO!https://t.co/3uscSK2GmJ
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) July 9, 2026
The chances of the Flyers landing Carlsson were still slim, even with the lucrative contract offer. But Flyers fans have to give credit to general manager Danny Briere for making the gamble of that offer sheet in an effort to put together a legitimate Stanley Cup contender on the ice next season and beyond.
Danny Briere deserves credit for Flyers' missed Leo Carlsson bet
As NHL fans know, this offseason was a rough one in terms of adding difference making players in free agency. Before this past season even started, all of the top impending free agents signed extensions with their respective teams. Those players included Connor McDavid, Kirill Kaprizov, Jack Eichel, Martin Necas, and more. That left the trade market as the best chance to land a top player.
For the Flyers, they watched Brady Tkachuk get dealt to the Florida Panthers to team up with his older brother Matthew. Dylan Larkin of the Detroit Red Wings requested a trade, but the Flyers were not on his landing spot wishlist. Columbus Blue Jackets star defenseman Zach Werenski opted to stay with the team even with his future in doubt. So, those were three options that were officially off the table for the Flyers.
Briere's and Philadelphia's best bet at landing a young star was through the offer sheet method, via restricted free agency. With the offer sheet, an external team has to negotiate with the restricted free agent and get them to agree to terms on a potential contract. It's not a case where the team can just sign the player to an offer sheet without negotiating with them. So, the Flyers talked to Carlsson, and he agreed to the five year contract that would pay him $18 million per year.
Sure, there is another star that is a restricted free agent in Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson, but it's not known where he'd like to play. Robertson already rejected an eight-year contract with a $15 million annual salary from the Seattle Kraken in a potential sign-and-trade. Plus, Robertson and the Stars are at an impasse on a potential deal, and are heading to arbitration. It' just not known if he'd be willing to sign an extension with the Flyers.
Carlsson was open to the idea of playing in Philadelphia by accepting the offer sheet, but the Flyers just had to bank on the Ducks passing on matching it. Obviously now, that didn't happen. It was a risk worth taking for the Flyers as they look to compete with the top teams in the Eastern Conference next season and beyond.
Now, we'll see if Briere has some potential backup plans this offseason to try and make a splash now that the Carlsson plan fell through.
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