Anaheim Ducks forward Leo Carlsson is being recognized by players around the NHL for raising salaries in the wake of his $90-million offer sheet.
"Players are thanking me," Carlsson said Wednesday, according to The Athletic's Mark Lazerus.
In July, Carlsson accepted an offer sheet with an $18-million average annual value from the Philadelphia Flyers, which the Ducks ultimately matched. At the time, the contract featured the highest cap hit ever and reset the market. The deal was especially notable considering Carlsson has yet to receive a single Hart Trophy vote or eclipse the point-per-game mark.
However, the 21-year-old did set career highs across the board last year, posting 29 goals and 67 points in 70 games.
The NHL salary cap increased by $8.5 million this summer to $104 million and is projected to continue rising in the coming years.
Since Carlsson signed his offer sheet, Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard signed for $15 million, San Jose Sharks phenom Macklin Celebrini inked a five-year pact with an $18.8-million AAV, and most recently, Colorado Avalanche star blue-liner Cale Makar penned an eight-year extension at a record $20.4-million cap hit.
The stars aren't the only ones earning significantly more, either. Relatively unproven young players with potential are also getting big contracts.
The Vancouver Canucks extended Zeev Buium, who has 76 games and 26 points on his resume, at a $9.38-million cap hit for eight years. The Boston Bruins inked forward Fraser Minten, who's produced 40 points in 107 career contests, to a seven-year deal at a $7.2-million AAV.
The Ducks are in a cap crunch in the wake of Carlsson's unexpectedly large contract, and they still need to re-sign restricted free agent Cutter Gauthier, who's also in line for a major payday. In a cap-saving move, Anaheim is reportedly mutually terminating the final year of Chris Kreider's deal.
"Chris, he's leaving, but he's also really happy for me as well," Carlsson said of the situation, according to Lazerus. "It's a hard business."
