It seemed to be a quiet Friday before Independence Day tomorrow in National Hockey League circles. A few signings, but nothing major. However, the Flyers\u2019 decision to offer sheet Anaheim center Leo Carlsson with a massive five-year, $90 million contract sent shockwaves through the hockey world. The general consensus is that the Flyers made a bold move in trying to land the prized young center. But not everyone was on board with the decision. We take a look at what some various people around the hockey universe and those \u201cexperts\u201d had to say regarding the news. <\/p>\n
Dave Pagnotta, Daily Faceoff<\/p>\n
In a short YouTube hit<\/a>, Pagnotta stated the Flyers were mulling such an offer sheet for the last 10 days, and some believed it was going to happen over last weekend during the NHL Draft in Buffalo. \u201cIf things don\u2019t work out for them in other areas, is this an avenue to pursue, and clearly for them, they felt it was,\u201d Pagnotta said, adding that Carlsson wasn\u2019t blindsided by the offer sheet but agreed to the contract himself.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is definitely shaking things up across the league, players I\u2019ve talked to, executives I\u2019ve talked to, are surprised that we\u2019re coming in here at a $90 million offer sheet.\u201d<\/p>\n PHLY<\/p>\n Charlie O\u2019Connor \u2014 in an \u201cemergency\u201d PHLY podcast<\/a> \u2014 was short and to the point. \u201cY\u2019all wanted a big move,\u201d O\u2019Connor quipped to those watching. \u201cThis is Danny Briere\u2019s attempt to make a big move. It doesn\u2019t get much bigger than this.\u201d He added he wasn\u2019t sure if the Flyers would land him or not given the amount of money needed and a club that isn\u2019t huge in terms of generating revenue. \u201cAt the very least, they have to think about not matching,\u201d he added. \u201cThere is literally no other way to put it, so I\u2019m just going to come out and say it. This is a little bit of a dick-measuring contest. It really is. There is an element to this where if Verbeek caves, then Danny Briere is the toughest MFer in the room. And I don\u2019t know if Verbeek is going to be willing to allow that to happen. But I don\u2019t think the Flyers don\u2019t make the offer sheet if they don\u2019t think there\u2019s a chance.\u201d<\/p>\n Steve Dangle<\/p>\n \u201cIf you look at the offer sheet package and you give up those four firsts, they\u2019re mortgaging the future,\u201d Dangle opined in a short YouTube clip<\/a>, taking it from the viewpoint that Anaheim could not match. \u201cWell you\u2019ve already got Tyson Foerster who is 24. Porter Martone, who is 19. Alex Bump, who is 22, Matvei Michkov is 21 and I assume he\u2019s going to bounce back. Jett Luchanko is 19. Unsigned draft picks like Jack Nesbitt and Brek Liske\u2026.\u201d <\/p>\n Dangle also added that essentially the Carlsson deal was a no-win situation for Anaheim and Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek. If they match, the contract will provide a lot of hurdles in securing other key young players on the Ducks roster. If they don\u2019t, then they lose their top center.<\/p>\n Frank Seravalli<\/p>\n Frank Seravalli saw some of the similarities<\/a> between the Carlsson offer sheet and the offer sheet Philadelphia general manager Paul Holmgren made Nashville\u2019s Shea Weber in 2012 (14 years, $110 million). The difference is that while both deals appear to be front-loaded, Anaheim\u2019s ownership seems to have the funds to withstand the chunk of cash Carlsson is lined up for on his next contract. However he also said how it served as a warning for general managers who decide to play hardball with their younger prospects come negotiating time.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s also a reminder for the Ducks that negotiating as hard as they typically do \u2013 grinding every player to a stump with their leverage \u2013 might feel good in the moment, but could cost you dearly in the long run,\u201d he wrote. \u201cThe best way to not be subject to an offer sheet is to get the player signed last summer or in the middle of last season. Because even if they\u2019re keeping Carlsson, their future is jammed up with the highest paid player in the league (AAV) in key RFA years where had Verbeek\/Solomon swallowed hard and \u201coverpaid\u201d it would still be paltry to $18 mil. What\u2019s that saying? Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.\u201d<\/p>\n Jason Gregor<\/p>\n Edmonton-based writer Jason Gregor said it might not be the best decision for Philadelphia should Anaheim not match it.<\/p>\n This isn’t a smart offer sheet by the Flyers, unless you are confident ANA will match. If they don’t you don’t have a 1st for four years and too much AAV for one player.<\/p>\n Offer sheets, like Hayton, Broberg, Holloway, are better when AAV and picks aren’t too restrictive.<\/p>\n \u2014 Jason Gregor (@JasonGregor) July 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Gregor replied to another tweet by asking if the Flyers could win with one player making that much money in the salary cap era as it hasn\u2019t been done yet.<\/p>\n Adam Wylde (Steve Dangle Podcast Network)<\/p>\n Adam Wylde, one of the co-hosts of the Steve Dangle Podcast, mentioned how much business both the Flyers and Ducks have done in recent memory, from the Zegras trade and the transaction which sent Jamie Drysdale to Philadelphia for William Gauthier. Wylde was curious whether or not Briere has burned that bridge with this offer sheet. \u201cWonder if they ever do business again? lol,\u201d Wylde wrote. In a subsequent tweet<\/a>, the host added he just recorded a podcast where he, Dangle and Jesse Blake were critical of Briere for making the \u201cwe might take a step back\u201d comment earlier this week. The recording was prior to news of the offer sheet.<\/p>\n What is most fascinating to me here is how much business these two teams have done together in the last few years<\/p>\n Drysdale\/Gauthier is the most obvious, but there have been others. <\/p>\n Wonder if they ever do business again? lol https:\/\/t.co\/EoDWMWW5ut<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Adam Wylde (@AdamWylde) July 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n The Athletic<\/p>\n In a thoughtful piece weighing the pros and cons<\/a> behind the move, The Athletic\u2019s Harman Dayal could see the upside in trying to get Carlsson, even if it\u2019s considered a hefty overpay for a young, talented forward. \u201cFor the Flyers, though, overpaying is worth it to potentially land the talent,\u201d Dayal said. \u201cPhiladelphia desperately needs a No. 1 center for its young core. They\u2019re absolutely loaded with skilled wingers such as Porter Martone, Trevor Zegras (he mostly played wing), Travis Konecny, Tyson Foerster, Owen Tippett and Matvei Michkov, and coach Rick Tocchet has turned them into an excellent defensive team. But their top-six center situation has been one of the worst in the league.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s next to impossible to land No. 1 centers via trade or free agency, especially one as young and high-potential as Carlsson, and drafting one is an enormous long shot too because the Flyers are too good to collect top-five picks moving forward. With that context in mind, Carlsson is worth the overpayment, especially when you think of how terrifying he and Martone would be together.\u201d<\/p>\n Here are some other takes from Friday\u2019s news:<\/p>\n Like we said on #MvsW<\/a> this week: Whether or not the Flyers get Carlsson, Keith Jones and Danny Briere can basically walk around to the nWo theme in the eyes of fans. <\/p>\n It\u2019s such an easy PR win for a GM. Worst case, an attempt was made. Best case, you get Leo F\u2019n Carlsson<\/p>\n \u2014 Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) July 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Also echoing similar sentiments was former Sportsnet analyst Jeff Marek, who lauded the Flyers and especially Briere for having the stones to try and make something happen to improve their team.<\/p>\n This all day. <\/p>\n Fans want to see their GM’s working to make their team better using every tool available.<\/p>\n I always cringe when I hear ‘offer sheets don’t work so I’m not going to use one’.<\/p>\n Even if they don’t work every time it’s important you show people who have the nerve to\u2026 https:\/\/t.co\/O4NTWcjMIW<\/a><\/p>\n