On July 3, the Philadelphia Flyers signed Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson to a five-year, $90 million offer sheet. Six days later, the Ducks matched the offer, giving the 21-year-old center an average annual value of $18 million.
The impact of Carlsson’s league-leading AAV will affect contract negotiations involving NHL stars for years, including promising young players such as Adam Fantilli of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Like Carlsson, Fantilli is a 21-year-old restricted free agent center coming off his entry-level contract.
Given that Fantilli is also a first-line center like Carlsson, he could seek an AAV comparable to that of the young Ducks star. They both play a somewhat similar style, with Carlsson scoring 141 points in 201 games while Fantilli has 140 points in 213 contests.
Aaron Portzline of The Athletic acknowledged the effect Carlsson’s contract could have on Fantilli’s negotiations. However, he also suggested that the Blue Jackets center could accept a deal similar to that of Connor Bedard, who inked a five-year deal on July 18 with an AAV of $15 million.
Whether it’s $15 million, $18 million, something in between, or perhaps a little less, Fantilli will be getting a big raise on his next contract. Carlsson and Bedard have set the market, and now the Blue Jackets must pony up.