The Anaheim Ducks matched a five-year offer sheet extended to Leo Carlsson by the Philadelphia Flyers. The contract, which boasts an average annual value of $18 million, will begin this upcoming season and last through the 2030-31 campaign. The deal makes Carlsson, 21, the highest-paid player in the NHL. Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson celebrates his empty net goal during the third period of Game 6 in the first round of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs series against the Edmonton Oilers, April 30, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill “Matching the offer sheet was an easy decision, as [general manager] Pat [Verbeek] has intelligently left enough cap space to give us the ability to retain Leo,” Ducks owners Henry and Susan Samueli said. “We have extremely high expectations