The Anaheim Ducks have officially matched (or declined) the Flyers’ offer sheet for Leo Carlsson.

Quick Context:

• On July 3, 2026, the Flyers tendered a 5-year, $90 million offer sheet to the restricted free agent Carlsson ($18M AAV, the highest in the NHL, heavily front-loaded with ~$85.3M in signing bonuses).
• Philadelphia would have sent Anaheim four first-round picks (2027–2030). dailyfaceoff.com
• The Ducks have 7 days to match (deadline ~July 10). They previously stated they would match any offer sheet for Carlsson and have substantial cap space (~$35M projected before other signings).

Current Status and Likely Outcome

Most analysts expected the Ducks to match, as Carlsson is their young franchise center (2nd overall pick in 2023, breakout 29G/67P in 70GP + strong playoffs in 2025-26). Letting him walk for picks would be a major setback for a contending team.

• This makes Carlsson the NHL’s highest-paid player by AAV.
• Significantly tighten Anaheim’s cap (leaving limited room for other RFAs like Cutter Gauthier and Pavel Mintyukov).
• This keeps him in Anaheim through 2030-31 (UFA after).

This has been a major storyline in the 2026 offseason, shaking up salary expectations league-wide.

Check out our Flyers Nitty Gritty Store

Cool Matvei Michkov merchandise

Flyers’ General Manager Danny Briere was very smart and calculated, with his offer sheet to the Anaheim Ducks for Leo Carlsson.

The Ducks have until Friday to match the Flyers offer. Will they match? What happens if they do or don’t match? Gettin Gritty Wit It goes over all scenarios. Please like and subscribe.

Tyson Foerster spoke with media on July 6, 2026, shortly after signing an 8-year, $56.8 million contract extension with the Flyers (starting 2027-28 at $7.1M AAV).

Here are the key quotes from that interview with signing the extension and loyalty to Philadelphia Flyers:

• “For me, I love Philadelphia and I love playing with these guys. They asked me if I would look to extend this year. For me, it was a no-brainer. I don’t play hockey for the money, so it’s all fun. I’m happy to be here.” nhl.com
• “They took me in when I was young. I went up in the ranks through Lehigh [Valley] first. Everything about it. The fans, the city. It’s a great spot to play in, and I think we’re on the come up. So, it’s super exciting and I’m happy to be here, hopefully for the next nine years.”
• “For me, I love Philadelphia. I love playing with these guys… I’m just happy to help for the next nine years.”

On General Manager Danny Brière and the team’s direction (including the Leo Carlsson offer sheet)

• “Danny, that’s one of the reasons I signed long-term here. You know he’s going to push to try to make us better. I’m kind of in the same boat as you guys (media) were, excited but waiting to see what’s going to happen.”

On his injury recovery, mental side, and playoffs

• “I missed a long stretch there. Peak of the season, that’s where the grind really kicks in… I came in at the end. I think I started out pretty well, but I’d missed so much time. I was doing everything I could, but I think it was more mental.”
• “You miss so much time, and you’re thinking, ‘Can I still do it?’… So it was just more mental.” mcall.com
• “We’re not satisfied with how last year went. We got a taste [of the playoffs] and now, hopefully, next year we’re right back in it. Going farther and deeper.”

On offseason training focus

• “Keep working on my skating. Work on my hands a little bit. I think my shot is pretty good and I can score from a decent ways out. But I think if I can get in tight a little bit, and get it upstairs quick enough. Just little things like that. Maybe beat a guy one-on-one and beat someone with a skilled play.”

These quotes emphasize his commitment to the Flyers organization, love for the city/fans/teammates, excitement about Brière’s aggression, and determination to improve after a shortened/injured season.

Check out our Flyers Nitty Gritty Store

Cool Matvei Michkov merchandise

Isaiah, Chef and Dan are joined by Anthony DiMarco (DailyFaceoff.com) and Kevin Durso (97.3 ESPN) as the Flyers send shockwaves through the NHL by signing Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson to a five-year, $90 million offer sheet.

Anthony DiMarco opens the show by breaking down the offer sheet, what it reveals about the Flyers’ timeline and organizational mindset, the likelihood of Anaheim matching, and the club’s contingency plans should the Ducks retain Carlsson. The discussion also explores other potential trade and offer-sheet targets as the offseason continues.

Kevin Durso then joins the conversation to examine the broader implications of the Flyers’ aggressive approach and what it signals about the organization’s direction moving forward. The panel also discusses the possibility of a Claude Giroux reunion, the addition of Noel Acciari, highlights from Flyers Development Camp, and the latest news from around the NHL.

Claude Giroux is returning to the Ottawa Senators on a new contract.

As of July 7, 2026, reliable reports (including from Elliotte Friedman and Sportsnet) confirm the Senators are finalizing a deal to bring back the 38-year-old veteran forward for another season. This ends speculation about a potential reunion with the Flyers.

Obviously, things changed, as I previously reported he would re-sign with Philadelphia. Maybe the Leo Carlsson offer sheet played an effect, it’s possible that Claude Giroux got tired of waiting to see if the Anaheim Ducks would match the offer for Carlsson.

Background

• Giroux played the last four seasons with Ottawa after signing there as a free agent in 2022. His most recent contract was a 1-year deal worth $2M (with performance bonuses) for 2025-26. puckpedia.com
• In 2025-26, he recorded 14 goals and 49 points in 82 games, plus strong faceoff play (leading the NHL at ~63%). He has been an alternate captain and key leader for a young Senators core. nhl.com
• He entered free agency on July 1, 2026, with Ottawa keeping the door open (they had extended an offer earlier). There were rumors of interest from Philadelphia and other teams, but he ultimately chose to stay in Ottawa, his hometown area.

This move provides continuity for the Senators as they build around younger players. Details like term and salary aren’t fully public yet, but it’s expected to be a short-term, veteran-friendly deal. Giroux has played 1,000+ NHL games and remains a skilled playmaker and faceoff specialist.

Check out our Flyers Nitty Gritty Store

Cool Matvei Michkov merchandise

Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale filed for salary arbitration on Sunday, July 5, 2026, ahead of the NHL deadline.

This is standard for restricted free agents (RFA’s) when contract talks stall. They are two of 15 players league-wide who filed, including notable names like Jason Robertson (Dallas Stars).

Key Details:

• What filing means: It triggers a potential arbitration hearing (July 20–August 1 window) where an independent arbitrator decides a one-year salary based on comparable players. Both sides present cases, and the decision is binding.
• Most common outcome: Teams and players almost always reach a settlement before a hearing. Flyers GM Danny Briere has expressed confidence in getting deals done.
• Offer sheet protection: Filing makes them ineligible for offer sheets from other teams, which benefits the Flyers by removing that risk.

Player Context:

• Trevor Zegras (forward, coming off a strong season with the Flyers after prior time with Anaheim) is a key offensive piece. His previous deal had a $5.75M AAV; expectations are for a significant raise.
• Jamie Drysdale (defenseman) had a prior $2.3M AAV contract. He’s arbitration-eligible and performed well recently.

The Flyers, who ended a playoff drought, are prioritizing re-signing these young core players. Negotiations will likely continue, with arbitration serving as leverage rather than a likely endpoint. Both contracts could be on hold, pending the outcome of the Leo Carlsson offer sheet, as well.

Check out our Flyers Nitty Gritty Store

Cool Matvei Michkov merchandise

It’s a bold, high-upside move for the Flyers to offer sheet Leo Carlsson, that could accelerate their contention timeline, though it’s risky due to the massive compensation involved.

Details of the Offer Sheet

• 5 years, $90 million total, with an $18M AAV (making Carlsson temporarily the NHL’s highest-paid player).
• Heavily front-loaded with massive signing bonuses (e.g., ~$20M in Year 1 bonuses on a low base salary) and an NMC in Year 5.
• If Anaheim does not match (they have 7 days), Philadelphia gets Carlsson but must surrender four first-round picks (one in each of the next four drafts) as compensation.

This is rare in the modern NHL (last major comparable was the 2012 Shea Weber offer sheet).

Why It’s Potentially Good for Philadelphia

• Talent upgrade: Carlsson (21, 2023 2nd-overall pick) is already a strong young center with size, skill, and production (29 goals in 70 games last season). Pairing him with players like Matvei Michkov and other young pieces gives the Flyers a legitimate young core. nytimes.com
• Cap flexibility: The front-loaded structure (low base salaries, big bonuses) helps the Flyers stay under the cap short-term while they build. They reportedly still project ~$11M in space even with this hit. puckpedia.com
• Aggressive signal: Flyers’ General Manager Danny Briere is showing willingness to go all-in and change the franchise’s trajectory instead of another slow rebuild. It pressures the Ducks and could reset the market for young stars.

It’s a “win-now” (or at least “win-soon”) swing that fits a team with young talent and cap space. If Carlsson pans out as a franchise center, it’s a steal. If not, the lost picks will hurt for years. Many see it as exciting for Philly fans tired of mediocrity, but it’s far from a guaranteed success. The Ducks are widely expected to match to keep their young star.

This has shaken up the NHL offseason significantly.

Check out our Flyers Nitty Gritty Store

Cool Matvei Michkov merchandise

The Flyers’ aggressive 5-year, $90 million offer sheet ($18M AAV) to Anaheim Ducks RFA center Leo Carlsson (signed July 3, 2026) was a bold, high-risk move aimed at landing a young franchise talent to accelerate their contention window.

Carlsson, the No. 2 overall pick in 2023, had 29 goals and 67 points in 70 games last season, helping the Ducks reach the playoffs. At just 21, he projects as a potential star center with size, skill, and two-way ability.

Key Reasons It Made Sense for the Flyers

• Urgent need for a top-line center: The Flyers have built a young, competitive core (including Matvei Michkov and Travis Konecny) and made the playoffs recently. They lack a true No. 1 center to drive the offense and pair with their wingers. Carlsson would slot in immediately as that centerpiece, elevating the forward group significantly.
• Rare chance to acquire elite young talent outside the draft: High-end young centers rarely become available via trade. Offer sheets are uncommon in the NHL, and this was one of the best realistic shots for the Flyers to add such a player. Flyers’ General Manager Daniel Briere had been eyeing this approach for months.
• Cap flexibility and rising league cap: The Flyers had built cap space, and the NHL salary cap is increasing. The deal’s structure (heavily front-loaded with ~$85M in bonuses, e.g., massive Year 1 signing bonus) maximizes pressure on Anaheim while fitting Philadelphia’s books short-term.
• Draft capital depth: The Flyers have accumulated extra picks (including Toronto’s). Giving up four first-rounders over the next four years hurts, but it’s a calculated price for a potential superstar entering his prime. They view this as a “big leap” opportunity.
• Aggressive “Broad Street” identity: This fits the Flyers’ history of bold moves under Briere, forcing the Ducks (who reportedly offered ~$12-13M AAV) into a tough spot and shaking up the league.

Risks and Context

The compensation (four first-round picks for an AAV over ~$11.9M) is steep, and $18M makes Carlsson the league’s highest-paid player (topping upcoming deals like Kaprizov’s $17M). Critics call it an overpay relative to his current production, and the Flyers aren’t guaranteed contenders yet.

Now the Ducks have until July 10 to match (they’ve signaled intent to keep him). If they don’t match, the Flyers get a young star at the cost of future assets.

Overall, it was a logical gamble for a team with contention aspirations, strong prospect depth, and a clear positional need—using a rare mechanism to force a high-upside addition. Whether it pays off depends on Carlsson’s development and the Ducks’ decision.

Check out our Flyers Nitty Gritty Store

Cool Matvei Michkov merchandise

The Flyers capped off the final day of Development Camp Friday morning with a 3-on-3 round robin tournament. The session took place at the Flyers Training Center in the 67 Arena. The 67 Arena is the newer third rink inside the facility. The truncated ice surface is perfect for 3-on-3 action but unfortunately the smaller viewing area was no match for the level of enthusiasm the Flyers faithful have for their favorite hockey club.

Hockey Town

Philly truly is one of the great hockey towns. Not many areas are going to fill a rink to capacity for a prospect 3-on-3 tournament on a 103 degree Friday morning in July. Before the posted start time the 67 Arena was already at capacity. The only way to gain entrance was to stand in the lobby and wait for someone to leave. One out, one in, and the lobby was still packed with Flyers Fans willing to wait for the possible opportunity to get inside.

The staff at the facility handled the situation perfectly. They knew folks were disappointed and they did their best to keep everyone informed and upbeat. Even Flyers governor Dan Hilferty came out to apologize to the crowd.

Standouts

Maksim Sokolovskii

The Flyers 2026 1st round pick has been introduced to us as a “shutdown” defenseman. Before I say this let me qualify my statement, a 3-on-3 contest is going to feature explosive offence over conservative defense. That being said, Sokolovskii was not your “stay-at-home” D-man Friday morning, in fact he was quite the opposite and he was dominant. There were stretches where it seemed every time the puck went in the net he either put it there or set the situation up.

At 6′-7″ he covers a lot of ice very quickly. This asset was exaggerated on the smaller ice surface. He’s got great hands and was easily carving his way through the opposition. His performance was clearly one of the highlights of the morning.

Of course the current young Flyers who were invited to take part in camp all stood out, as they should. They took the level of play to a higher level throughout the week which had a positive effect on everyone involved. It surely raised the bar for the younger prospects.

Denver Barkey was a dog on a bone as usual. A spark plug in perpetual pursuit of the puck. Porter Martone‘s size and skill create a daunting presence on the ice. But as I said you should expect no less out of these guys, they have already proven themselves at a much higher level.

Noah Powell was impossible not to notice during the tournament. He was pulling off moves that had defenders scrambling to get their bearings back. He was quick, confident, and in all the right places at all the right times. Powell also did not shy away from the physical aspects of the game. He was impressive.

Jack Nesbitt also put in a proper skate throughout the tournement. He uses his size and strength to get himself into the dangerous areas. He’s relentless with the puck, maintaining ownership through some pretty sticky situations. Jackson Edward was another player that you just kept noticing time and again.

Kudos

At Dev Camp you have a variety of players all at different levels of their development taking their best shot at becoming part of the most elite ice hockey league on the planet. The skill level is very high. The competitive enthusiasm and commitment is obvious. All of these guys are here for a reason.

No matter what the future has in store for these young players making it this far is an absolute accomplishment that most hockey players can only dream of. Many will be back for Rookie Camp in mid September. Flyers Development Camp 2026 is in the books, now onto the dog days of Summer.

This place sounded great at the end of the day. The mutual recognition between the team and the fans really is something special.

Check out our Flyers Nitty Gritty Store

Cool Matvei Michkov merchandise

The Flyers have tendered a 5-year offer sheet to Anaheim Ducks RFA center Leo Carlsson worth an AAV of $18 million (total $90 million).

Anaheim now has seven days to match the offer sheet under NHL CBA rules (Section 10.3). If they do not match, the Flyers would acquire Carlsson, and the Ducks would receive four first-round picks from Philadelphia (one each in 2027, 2028, 2029, and 2030) as compensation. This is the highest tier of offer sheet compensation, which applies to contracts with an AAV of roughly $11.94 million or more.

Background and Context

• Carlsson’s situation: The 21-year-old Swedish center (drafted 2nd overall in 2023) is a restricted free agent after his entry-level contract expired. In 2025-26, he had a strong season with 29 goals and 67 points in 70 games, plus playoff production helping the Ducks reach the second round. He’s viewed as a franchise centerpiece.
• Why an offer sheet? Carlsson was eligible due to the structure/timing of his prior deal. The Flyers, under GM Danny Briere, have a clear need at top-line center and are aggressively pursuing talent. This bold move (the largest AAV in the offer) signals intent to shake up the market, even if many expected the Ducks to retain him.
• Ducks’ position: Prior reports (as recent as July 2) indicated Anaheim was prepared to match any offer sheet on Carlsson and had preserved cap space for that purpose. Matching would tie up significant cap space but keep their young core intact.

This is a rare high-stakes offer sheet in the modern NHL (offer sheets are uncommon due to compensation and relationships between GM’Claude s). Expect significant updates in the coming days as the Ducks decide. Flyers fans are buzzing, while Ducks fans are likely confident in a match but wary of the cap implications.

Claude Giroux

The Flyers are indeed signing Claude Giroux, per my source.

The Fourth Period, David Pagnotta, was the first to report. Welcome back home to Philly Claude Giroux.

Always a FlyerCheck out our Flyers Nitty Gritty Store

Cool Matvei Michkov merchandise