The Flyers tried to pull off a massive move by signing Carlsson to a five-year, $90 million offer sheet, but Anaheim wasn’t letting its franchise center walk. The Ducks matched the deal, keeping the 21-year-old in Anaheim on an $18 million per year contract.
And yeah, that number is wild.
Carlsson said he always wanted to stay with the Ducks, but he also admitted the Flyers’ offer was the kind of life-changing deal you basically have to sign. Anaheim had the option to take four first-round picks as compensation, but instead chose the player they drafted No. 2 overall in 2023.
Hard to blame them.
Carlsson is coming off a breakout season with 29 goals, 38 assists and 67 points in 70 games. He also showed up in the playoffs, putting up 4 goals, 7 assists and 11 points in 12 games as Anaheim reached the postseason for the first time since 2018.
For his young NHL career, Carlsson already has 61 goals, 80 assists and 141 points in 201 regular-season games. At 6-foot-3 and 208 pounds, he gives Anaheim the kind of big, skilled No. 1 center every rebuilding team dreams about finding.
This wasn’t just about keeping a good player.
This was Anaheim saying Carlsson is the face of what they’re building. The Ducks had the picks sitting there if they wanted to reset, but they chose the guy who can lead the next era.
The money is massive. The pressure will be too.
But if Carlsson keeps growing the way he has, Anaheim might look back at this and be very glad they didn’t let Philadelphia steal their future.