The Anaheim Ducks aren’t letting one of their franchise cornerstones get away.

After the Philadelphia Flyers signed restricted free agent Leo Carlsson to a five-year, $18 million average annual value offer sheet, the Ducks officially announced they have matched the contract, ensuring the 20-year-old center will remain in Anaheim.

The decision was expected to be one of the biggest storylines of the NHL offseason after Flyers general manager Daniel Briere took an aggressive swing at landing one of the league’s brightest young stars. By matching the offer sheet, Anaheim keeps Carlsson in the fold while avoiding the loss of its future No. 1 center.

Had the Ducks declined to match, Philadelphia would have acquired Carlsson while sending four consecutive first-round draft picks to Anaheim as compensation.

Instead, the Ducks made it clear they view Carlsson as a foundational piece of their rebuild.

Carlsson has rapidly emerged as one of the NHL’s most promising stars during his short career. His combination of size, playmaking ability, hockey IQ, and two-way game has made him a centerpiece of Anaheim’s young core.

For the Flyers, the move signals just how serious Briere is about accelerating Philadelphia’s rebuild. While the organization ultimately doesn’t land Carlsson, it demonstrated a willingness to use every available tool to pursue elite talent rather than waiting for players to become available through free agency or trade.

Offer sheets have been rare throughout the salary cap era, but this offseason has seen teams become far more aggressive in targeting restricted free agents. Philadelphia’s attempt forced Anaheim into a difficult financial decision and ensured Carlsson received one of the richest contracts ever signed by a player with his experience.

With the Ducks matching the deal, Carlsson remains in Anaheim for the foreseeable future, while the Flyers will now shift their focus to other opportunities to strengthen their roster before the start of the 2026-27 season.

Although Philadelphia came up short, the message around the league is clear: offer sheets are back, and no team can afford to assume its young stars are untouchable.