Give the Flyers an “A” for effort but also a “SC” because there was only a very slim chance they were going to gain the services of center Leo Carlsson.
On Thursday, the Anaheim Ducks decided to match the Flyers’ five-year/$90-million offer sheet which was made on last Friday.
The Ducks had a week to decide but needed just six days to make up their minds. If they had chosen not to match, they would have received the Flyers’ first-round draft picks for the next four years.
Flyers general manager Daniel Briere made a gutsy move by trying to secure Carlsson’s services but Anaheim just couldn’t afford to part ways with what now becomes the highest-paid player in the National Hockey League at $18 million per season through 2031.
The general reaction to the failed attempt is that the Flyers gave it their best shot. It seems rather unlikely they will make a try for another headline player by going this route in this offseason.
Carlsson sounded pleased he’s staying put, even though he was willing to play for the Flyers. After all, he did sign the offer sheet.
“I always wanted to be a Duck,” he said through Anaheim’s press department. “It’s home, too. So I’m just super excited to be back.”
The offer sheet was just the business side of hockey, according to Carlsson.
“I mean there’s a lot of business in hockey,” he said. “And I knew it. It was just too good to pass on. I think everybody understands that. I talked to my teammates too (about the offer sheet) and everybody was just super happy for me.”
Meanwhile, it’s been a tough couple days for the Flyers.
They learned on Tuesday that Claude Giroux decided to re-sign with the Ottawa Senators. And now Carlsson will continue to play with his team in California.
But, there is a positive from all this.
Briere has shown the Flyers are willing to make bold moves to get better and continue to improve after making the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2020.
No doubt the Flyers could have used a star player to take over the No. 1 center spot but that situation will need more time to resolve itself.
Anaheim general manager Pat Verbeek said in a statement released by the team that the Ducks never really thought about letting their 21-year-old star go elsewhere.
“We’re very happy to have Leo under contract for five years,” Verbeek said. “We have viewed Leo as a franchise player since the moment we met him prior to the 2023 draft.
“He’s a character person on and off the ice. Leo is viewed as a top player in this league and it was always our intention to match any offer sheet.”
Not signing Carlsson at least means the Flyers will have salary space for some of their top restricted free agents, such as Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale.
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