The Anaheim Ducks entered the summer expecting to secure Leo Carlsson on a long-term extension, but those plans have taken a dramatic turn.
General manager Pat Verbeek now faces one of the biggest decisions of his tenure after Philadelphia forced Anaheim into unfamiliar territory. The situation extends beyond a single contract, raising questions about the team’s negotiating strategy and long-term roster construction.
Elliotte Friedman Says Pat Verbeek Lost Control After Leo Carlsson’s Offer Sheet
Carlsson’s 5-year, $90 million offer sheet from the Philadelphia Flyers has placed Verbeek in a position few general managers ever encounter.
On the latest episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast, Elliotte Friedman argued that Philadelphia’s aggressive move did far more than challenge Anaheim financially. In his view, it fundamentally altered how the Ducks will have to operate moving forward.
Friedman explained that Flyers GM Daniel Briere understood a conventional offer would never pressure Anaheim into making a difficult choice.
As he put it, “You can’t just come in there offering $15 million. You’ve got to blow them out of the water.”
By submitting an offer carrying an $18 million average annual value and an enormous signing bonus structure, Philadelphia forced Anaheim to confront a contract well beyond the range it had reportedly discussed with Carlsson before free agency.
The deal requires nearly $39 million to be paid within the first 357 days, a structure that directly tests an organization not known for handing out significant signing bonuses. Even if Anaheim matches, the contract immediately tightens its salary cap flexibility while establishing a new financial benchmark for future negotiations.
Friedman believes the bigger issue is that Verbeek surrendered leverage during the process. “He didn’t see this coming,” Friedman said, adding, “He has lost control, unfortunately for him, of the structure of his organization. Who knows where this goes, but the Ducks might never be the same.”
While praising Verbeek’s eye for talent, Friedman argued that allowing Carlsson to remain unsigned created an opening that Philadelphia was ready to exploit.
He also pointed to Anaheim’s history of difficult negotiations with young players. Mason McTavish, Jamie Drysdale, and Trevor Zegras all endured lengthy contract discussions, while Jackson LaCombe was the lone player who reached a relatively straightforward agreement.
According to Friedman, Carlsson’s representatives watched those negotiations unfold and recognized the opportunity presented by an offer sheet.
Anaheim still has the option to match before the July 10 deadline, and league expectation remains that the Ducks will retain their franchise center.
KEEP READING: Anaheim Ducks Legend Dispels Narrative Around Leo Carlsson’s $90M Deal
Regardless of the final decision, Friedman sees this episode as a warning for every NHL executive: elite restricted free agents now possess more leverage than many teams believed, and delaying negotiations can reshape an organization’s future almost overnight.
