The Philadelphia Flyers have taken one of the biggest swings of the NHL offseason, signing Anaheim Ducks restricted free agent center Leo Carlsson to a five-year offer sheet worth a staggering $18 million annually.

We have tendered an offer sheet to Anaheim center Leo Carlsson. The offer is a five-year contract worth an average annual value (AAV) of $18M, which would require four of the Flyers first-round draft picks in each of the next four seasons as compensation. https://t.co/nfhD4h6nEc

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) July 3, 2026

The move isn’t entirely unexpected. Earlier this offseason, Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said Anaheim was prepared to match any offer sheet for the 21-year-old franchise center. Under NHL rules, the Ducks now have seven days to decide whether to match the contract and retain Carlsson or allow him to join the Flyers in exchange for four consecutive first-round draft picks.

Even if Philadelphia doesn’t ultimately land Carlsson, Danny Briere may still accomplish part of his goal. Matching an $18 million cap hit would force Anaheim to dedicate a significant portion of its salary cap to one player, potentially limiting the club’s financial flexibility in the coming years. That could make it more difficult for the Ducks to lock up other young stars, including former Flyers prospect Cutter Gauthier.

If that proves to be the case, Briere’s aggressive offer sheet may be more than just a bid to acquire a franchise center, it could also be a calculated bit of payback aimed at the former Flyers’ top prospect.