NHL Rumor Roundup: Leo Carlsson's Offer Sheet Shakes Up The NHL
On Friday, the Philadelphia Flyers signed Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson to a five-year offer sheet with an average annual value of $18 million.
The Ducks have seven days from the date Carlsson signed the offer to match it. Otherwise, they'll receive four first-round picks from the Flyers as compensation starting in 2027.
Regardless of whether Carlsson remains a Duck or joins the Flyers, he is now the NHL's highest-paid player in terms of average annual value.
How Ducks' Leo Carlsson's Offer Sheet Affects The NHL's Top Remaining RFAs
There are plenty of NHL stars who are RFAs and still waiting to sign a contract extension with their teams. After the Philadelphia Flyers tendered an offer sheet for the Anaheim Ducks' Leo Carlsson, how does that affect the other RFAs?
Meanwhile, the Carlsson offer sheet will set the market for this summer's top NHL RFAs.
Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times believes the Blackhawks might have hoped to get center Connor Bedard signed to an average annual value between $13 million and $16 million before Friday. Now, it could cost them over $18 million annually to sign the 20-year-old budding superstar.
Pope doubted that Bedard would sign an offer sheet, citing the young center's relationship with GM Kyle Davidson, his desire to remain with the Blackhawks for the long term and his disdain for drama.
The price of re-signing Adam Fantilli has likely gone up for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Meanwhile, Sam Carchidi of The Hockey News wondered if the 21-year-old Blue Jackets center could become the Flyers' "Plan B" if the Ducks match the Carlsson offer sheet.
Fantilli might not be interested in an offer sheet, or perhaps he hasn't received one yet. Nevertheless, it would be in the Blue Jackets' best interest to find out and act quickly and accordingly, especially with the questions swirling about the futures of Zach Werenski and Kirill Marchenko.
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This story was originally published July 6, 2026 at 7:52 AM.