Ducks offer Leo Carlsson a match of $90 million: NHL’s highest-paid player hands down

The Anaheim Ducks didn’t need a full seven days to decide whether to answer the Philadelphia Flyers. they would record a five-year $90 million offer sheet to Leon Carlsson A few days after Carlsson signed the Vols’ offer, the Ducks announced they had matched the deal, keeping the Swedish center in Anaheim and making him the highest paid player in NHL history.

Philadelphia moved the hockey world last week when they signed Carlsson, and the $18 million AAV was high enough that it was doubtful that Anaheim would match the deal. The Ducks were able to release Carlsson and took four first-rounders from the Flyers, but chose to keep the franchise cornerback instead.

The No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, Carlsson is still blossoming into a No. 1 superstar. 1 center He took a big step towards that last season with 29 goals and 38 assists in 70 games. Perhaps more importantly, Carlsson’s five-on-five game shows major improvement as the Ducks controlled 53.4% ​​of his field goals with him on the ice per Natural Stat Trick.

Carlsson still has work to do to become the 18 millionth player, but he is on the right track. Even if Carlsson doesn’t quite get there, he’ll come close, and the rising salary cap will take away the barrier for the next several years.

However, the ducks were in a legitimate league, and still are to some extent. After Carlsson signed his contract, Anaheim wanted to avoid a similar situation with 22-year-old defenseman Pavel Mintyukov, so the team signed him to a five-year, $36 million deal. Mintyukov is a gifted player, but he has real holes in his defensive game, so he might have lost his chance as a duck.

Anaheim now has more than $9 million in salary cap space, and another big restricted free agent to sign. Cutter Gauthier, 22, just posted a 41-goal season and needs a new contract. His annual number almost certainly comes in at more than $10 million, so the Ducks have some way to go, and that doesn’t even take into account that the team doesn’t have six NHL-quality defensemen on the roster.

Pat Verbeek still has a lot of work ahead of him, but at least he knows his best player has been signed for the next five seasons. Now he just needs to tell about the pieces around Carlsson.

Carlsson is now the NHL’s highest-paid player

This contract makes Carlsson the longest player in NHL history on a yearly basis. Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov topped the record ($17 million), which was last summer.

That puts a lot of pressure on Carlsson to become a true superstar because the players are making several million dollars less than he already has Hart Trophy wins, Rocket Richard trophies and Stanley Cup rings. Some of that is timing. As the salary cap rises, contracts explode, and Carlsson just happens to be the latest star player to get a new deal.

When Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid sign new contracts in two years, their annual salaries will rival or beat Carlsson’s. That said, the head that wears the crown is heavy, and the Ducks are counting on Carlsson to step up to the elite level moving forward.

Highest-paid players in the 2026-27 season

There are few players who could join this list in a row. Conner Bedard is still a restricted free agent despite a recent shoulder injuryhe will still get a hefty payday from the Chicago Blackhawks. Plus, superstar defensive ends Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes are eligible for extensions, and those contracts will pay off the market for that position.