Anaheim Ducks matched the Philadelphia Flyers' five-year, $90 million offer sheet for 21-year-old Leo Carlsson, locking him into a five-year contract at an $18 million average annual value and making him the highest-paid player in the NHL. The Flyers tendered the offer sheet on July 3 and because Carlsson was a restricted free agent Anaheim retained matching rights and exercised them. Carlsson learned he would remain in Anaheim minutes before the announcement and then addressed reporters in a digital press conference, saying in Swedish "Det är skönt. Det här (Anaheim) är mitt hem nu." He described the week as "speciell" and "en chock" when he first saw the salary number, and said teammates told him he deserved the deal while hoping he would stay. This past season Carlsson scored 67 points in 70 NHL games, and Anaheim has viewed the 2023 draftee as a player to build around. With the match complete, Carlsson stays in Anaheim and carries an $18 million cap hit for the next five seasons.
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