The Anaheim Ducks swiftly matched the Philadelphia Flyers' record five-year, $90 million offer sheet for Leo Carlsson, solidifying him as the highest-paid player in NHL history. This decisive action came just days after Carlsson signed the offer, demonstrating the Ducks' commitment to their franchise cornerstone.

Philadelphia's bold move to secure Carlsson created significant buzz in the hockey community, raising questions about Anaheim's ability to retain him. The Ducks had the option to let Carlsson leave and receive four first-round picks but chose to keep the talented center instead.

As the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, Carlsson is showing promise as a superstar. Last season, he recorded 29 goals and 38 assists in 70 games, with a notable improvement in his five-on-five game, controlling 53.4% of expected goals on the ice.

Despite Carlsson's impressive trajectory, the Ducks face challenges. They recently signed Pavel Mintyukov to a five-year, $36 million deal, addressing their restricted free agent concerns. However, with just over $9 million in salary cap space remaining and another major restricted free agent, Cutter Gauthier, needing a contract after a 41-goal season, Anaheim must navigate their tight budget carefully.

Carlsson's new deal surpasses Kirill Kaprizov's previous record of $17 million, placing immense pressure on him to perform at an elite level. With the salary cap expected to rise, the Ducks hope Carlsson will rise to the occasion, while the looming contracts of stars like Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid could soon challenge his record.

Highest-Paid Players in the 2026-27 Season

• Leo Carlsson (ANA): $18 million
• Kirill Kaprizov (MIN): $17 million
• Leon Draisaitl (EDM): $14 million
• Jack Eichel (VGK): $13.5 million
• Auston Matthews (TOR): $13.25 million
• Nathan MacKinnon (COL): $12.6 million
• Connor McDavid (EDM): $12.5 million
• Mitch Marner (VGK): $12 million
• Mikko Rantanen (DAL): $12 million
• Kyle Connor (WPG): $12 million

As the Ducks look ahead, they must ensure that the supporting cast around Carlsson is capable of elevating the team's performance.