nullterm wrote on Sun, 19 July 2026 23:37

Skookum Jim wrote on Mon, 13 July 2026 04:18 nullterm wrote on Sat, 11 July 2026 22:21 Kr55 wrote on Thu, 09 July 2026 09:25 Ducks match @AnaheimDucks Five more years of LEO! https://www.nhl.com/ducks/news/ducks-match-five-year-offer-s heet-for-carlsson The Ducks have matched a five-year offer sheet extended by the Philadelphia Flyers to center Leo Carlsson. Carlsson’s five-year contract worth an average annual value (AAV) of $18 million will begin in the 2026-27 NHL season and run through the 2030-31 campaign. “Matching the offer sheet was an easy decision, as Pat has intelligently left enough cap space to give us the ability to retain Leo,” said Ducks owners Henry and Susan Samueli. “We have extremely high expectations for Leo. We firmly believe he will continue his strong growth trajectory and become one of the truly elite centers in the league, while continuing to make a strong impact in our community.” Now looking for potential trades of Killorn/Vitrano to be able to afford Gauthier. The only thing more insane then the Flyers offer sheet is the fact the Ducks matched it... for a 67 point player to make him the highest paid player in the league. Ducks have 9M left and have to sign Gauthier.. which is all of that plus more.. Ducks will have to unload Krieder (35) at 6.5M and/or Killorn (36) at 6.25M for one more year each.. suspect it will cost assets to take off their hands.. .. and their D already lost Gudas.. Trouba.. Calrson.. suddenly they are less of a contender than last playoffs by a far margin.. their season will all hinge on whether they can unload one of Krieder or Killorn and add some better D. It's nice to see another organizational tire fire, and it's not even the Oilers this time.

Saw an interview with Carlsson a year ago where he was joking about how quickly he would sign a ~9M x 8 deal that summer. By mid-season sounds like he was looking for 12-13M and Verbeek was playing hardball. And it ends up 18M and sets a precedent for their other 2 star young forwards that need a deal.

His first 2 seasons weren't spectacular, so I get why Carlsson would have taken ~9M. It was up to Verbeek to understand what he had with him, and he failed big time.

Verbeek seems to pride himself on being very difficult to negotiate with. Agents voted Anaheim the most difficult front office to deal with. Ruined their rebuild.

[Updated on: Mon, 20 July 2026 09:32]

"We need to get better immediately. That starts today"
- Lowe, 2013

"Next year I would forecast as another developmental year"
- MacT, 2015

5 x $5,000,000