Anaheim Ducks Retain Leo Carlsson with Record $90 Million Contract Match

The Anaheim Ducks have elected to match a landmark offer sheet for center Leo Carlsson, agreeing to a five-year contract worth $90 million. By doing so, the franchise retains the 21-year-old restricted free agent and sets a new benchmark for average annual value (AAV) in the National Hockey League at $18 million. This figure surpasses the previous high of $17 million held by Kirill Kaprizov of the Minnesota Wild.

Despite Carlsson’s status as the second overall pick in the 2023 NHL draft rather than an established veteran, the Ducks’ management opted to secure his services rather than accept four first-round draft picks from the Philadelphia Flyers as compensation. The contract is structured to be heavily frontloaded, with a significant portion comprised of signing bonuses. Carlsson is set to receive nearly $20 million in cash compensation during the 2026–27 season, a steep increase from the $950,000 cap hit of his recent entry-level deal. The agreement extends through the 2030–31 season.

Financially, the Ducks are positioned to accommodate the massive deal due to a combination of current cap space and projected league revenue growth. With the NHL salary cap anticipated to rise to a record $104 million by the 2026–27 season, Anaheim reportedly retains roughly $9 million in available space for the upcoming campaign. Ownership praised general manager Pat Verbeek’s financial management, noting that the team retained the necessary flexibility to keep Carlsson.

While the Ducks secure their core asset, the Flyers’ ownership situation remains in flux. The Philadelphia franchise operates under Comcast Spectacor, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. The parent company is currently navigating a complex separation involving NBCUniversal. Comcast trades in the Communication Services sector and has a market capitalization of approximately $83.5 billion. With shares down 0.75% in recent trading, the conglomerate is undergoing significant structural changes as it prepares to split off from NBCUniversal.

This record-setting contract is expected to influence upcoming negotiations for other emerging young stars, including Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks and Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks.

What to watch

• Future contract negotiations for other top draft picks regarding potential salary acceleration.
• Updates on the Comcast and NBCUniversal spinoff and its impact on Comcast Spectacor operations.
• Anaheim’s remaining salary cap maneuvers as the free agency period progresses.

Source: original release