- May 21, 2026
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Despite the events that transpired over the summer, a certain Anaheim Duck never wanted to leave the nest.
In a letter to fans on NHL.com, forward Leo Carlsson explained that he always wanted to stay in Anaheim, even though he signed an offer sheet from the Philadelphia Flyers over the summer.
“The contract negotiations over the summer were a lot to deal with for everybody,” Carlsson said. “But when all is said and done, Anaheim is ultimately where I want to be for the rest of my life. That to me was always a no-brainer. This was a unique situation, but I, of course, always wanted to be here.”
In early July, Carlsson signed a five-year offer sheet from the Flyers, which carried an AAV of $18 million through the 2030-31 season. At the time, it made the Swedish center the highest-paid player in the league, though that will change next year.
Carlsson added that, despite being a Duck being part of his plan, he wasn’t going to pass up such a lucrative offer.
“We always said we wanted to stay with the Ducks. It’s just when that number pops up, it’s hard to say no in the situation I was in. That’s something I hope everybody understands. It was obviously hard thinking about how I could possibly leave here and not knowing where I’m going to go. But I’m so glad it all worked out.”
The Ducks matched the offer the following week, though not soon enough for some Ducks fans’ blood pressure. It secures the 21-year-old for the foreseeable future, confirming that Anaheim wants to remain a contender in the wild Western Conference.
Carlsson said people around the organization have had his back throughout the process, reinforcing his desire to stay with the team until the end.
“My teammates have been very supportive through all of this, and it’s been great being back with them again. We see each other more as friends here than teammates, which is a great feeling…I love living in Orange County, and it’s where I want to be for the rest of my life. I live close to the beach in Newport Beach, and I love the weather, the people, the environment, the great restaurants and everything that makes Southern California special. It’s just so relaxed out here, and people are so friendly. I love everything about it.”
Carlsson admitted that he received backlash from people on Instagram, but he tried his best to brush off the negative comments.
“I tried not to read too much about it when all of this is going on. I’m not on Twitter anymore, but I’m still on Instagram, and it can be hard to avoid it. I would get DMs and stuff, and there was some negative stuff, but that doesn’t affect me at all. It’s mostly from people I’m never going to listen to advice from, for the most part. I usually just laugh at it and move on.”
The Karlstad native has been with the Ducks since the team took him with the second overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. He made an immediate impact with the big club and quickly became one of Anaheim’s top offensive weapons. Last season, Carlsson had his best season yet, scoring 29 goals and 38 assists for 67 points, finishing second on the team in scoring behind Cutter Gauthier. The duo helped the Ducks reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in eight years, with Carlsson adding 11 points in 12 games, as Anaheim reached the second round.
In 201 regular-season games, Carlsson has posted 61 goals and 80 assists for 141 points.
The Ducks open their 2026-27 season on Friday night, when they visit the Vegas Golden Knights in a rematch of last year’s playoffs.
Continue reading...
In a letter to fans on NHL.com, forward Leo Carlsson explained that he always wanted to stay in Anaheim, even though he signed an offer sheet from the Philadelphia Flyers over the summer.
“The contract negotiations over the summer were a lot to deal with for everybody,” Carlsson said. “But when all is said and done, Anaheim is ultimately where I want to be for the rest of my life. That to me was always a no-brainer. This was a unique situation, but I, of course, always wanted to be here.”
In early July, Carlsson signed a five-year offer sheet from the Flyers, which carried an AAV of $18 million through the 2030-31 season. At the time, it made the Swedish center the highest-paid player in the league, though that will change next year.
Carlsson added that, despite being a Duck being part of his plan, he wasn’t going to pass up such a lucrative offer.
“We always said we wanted to stay with the Ducks. It’s just when that number pops up, it’s hard to say no in the situation I was in. That’s something I hope everybody understands. It was obviously hard thinking about how I could possibly leave here and not knowing where I’m going to go. But I’m so glad it all worked out.”
The Ducks matched the offer the following week, though not soon enough for some Ducks fans’ blood pressure. It secures the 21-year-old for the foreseeable future, confirming that Anaheim wants to remain a contender in the wild Western Conference.
Carlsson said people around the organization have had his back throughout the process, reinforcing his desire to stay with the team until the end.
“My teammates have been very supportive through all of this, and it’s been great being back with them again. We see each other more as friends here than teammates, which is a great feeling…I love living in Orange County, and it’s where I want to be for the rest of my life. I live close to the beach in Newport Beach, and I love the weather, the people, the environment, the great restaurants and everything that makes Southern California special. It’s just so relaxed out here, and people are so friendly. I love everything about it.”
Carlsson admitted that he received backlash from people on Instagram, but he tried his best to brush off the negative comments.
“I tried not to read too much about it when all of this is going on. I’m not on Twitter anymore, but I’m still on Instagram, and it can be hard to avoid it. I would get DMs and stuff, and there was some negative stuff, but that doesn’t affect me at all. It’s mostly from people I’m never going to listen to advice from, for the most part. I usually just laugh at it and move on.”
The Karlstad native has been with the Ducks since the team took him with the second overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. He made an immediate impact with the big club and quickly became one of Anaheim’s top offensive weapons. Last season, Carlsson had his best season yet, scoring 29 goals and 38 assists for 67 points, finishing second on the team in scoring behind Cutter Gauthier. The duo helped the Ducks reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in eight years, with Carlsson adding 11 points in 12 games, as Anaheim reached the second round.
In 201 regular-season games, Carlsson has posted 61 goals and 80 assists for 141 points.
The Ducks open their 2026-27 season on Friday night, when they visit the Vegas Golden Knights in a rematch of last year’s playoffs.
Continue reading...