Leo Carlsson's Agents Reveal Truth Behind Historic $90 Million Offer Sheet
Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson's five-year, $90 million contract changed the NHL salary landscape before just his fourth season of professional play.
The Philadelphia Flyers submitted an offer sheet to the Ducks forward, with an $18 million annual value. Anaheim later matched it, keeping Carlsson in tow while making him the league's highest-paid player by average salary.
Given Carlsson's lack of overall experience and age compared to other high-earning players across the NHL (only another player 21 or younger is earning $10 million per season in the NHL), the contract drew criticism toward Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek.
That said, Carlsson's agents revealed on Monday that Anaheim had pursued an extension throughout the previous season at a starting point of $10.5 million per season.
Speaking with Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman on the "32 Thoughts" podcast, Matt and Ryan Keator said the Ducks offered Carlsson eight years and $84 million before the season.
"It's an offer that we were quick to turn down right away, and it wasn't for their lack of trying," Matt Keator said. "They were tenacious, they were after us on it, through September and October."
The agents said waiting was their decision, not Carlsson's or Anaheim's, as they studied the rising salary cap and expected Chicago Blackhawks phenom Connor Bedard's next deal to establish a better comparison.
"It was our decision," Ryan Keator said, "not the Ducks."
After the season, Anaheim again tried to reach an agreement with Carlsson, but his agents instead advised the player to reach restricted free agency and test the offer-sheet market.
Bonus 32 Thoughts interview pod
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 13, 2026
Matt & Ryan Keator, who represent Leo Carlsson. They take us through the last 10 months -- from negotiations with Anaheim to the offer sheet.
Great answers to terrible questions.
Link to your preferred platform, here: https://t.co/Fit34tk4JO
Matt Keator said seven or eight teams expressed interest and four submitted offers. Those possibilities were eventually reduced to two before Philadelphia's offer sheet separated itself from the pack.
When Carlsson received the five-year, $90 million offer in writing, the agents said he was "speechless."
"I think he was overwhelmed by the structure, how it was front-loaded, almost all of it in signing bonus, and frankly, that makes a huge difference when you're making that decision," Matt said. "Because that's up-front money. That's money in your pocket with compound interest, so the value's even greater. I think the offer he received was something that he and his family couldn't refuse. Like The Godfather, he made him an offer he couldn't refuse."
After matching the offer sheet, Verbeek said the Ducks never thought about losing their player.
"Leo is viewed as a top player in this league," Verbeek said, "and it was always our intention to match any offer sheet."
Related: Jets' Connor Hellebuyck Trade Updates Emerge After Failed Sabres Deal
Related: Matthew Tkachuk Reacts to Sergei Bobrovsky's Maple Leafs Move
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published July 14, 2026 at 7:00 AM.