The Utah Mammoth have pretty much completed their biggest moves of the offseason already, trading away one player, trading for a couple of others (including a superstar), and also signing a valuable veteran. Perhaps this offseason hasn't been too flashy, but it has actually looked amazing, and it seems like an insane offer from the Philadelphia Flyers to Carlsson and the Anaheim Ducks shows that the offseason for Utah has a big win.
$18M AAV deal offered from Flyers
The Flyers for some strange reason decided to take a massive swing at restricted free agent Leo Carlsson, as they seek to become contenders. The Ducks Carlsson was selected 2nd overall in the 2023 NHL draft, and has ultimately become a star as in the 2025-26 season, Carlsson scored 29 goals and added 38 assist (67 points). To say the least, the Flyers aren't being aggressive or even smart, as the deal is extremely risky. The deal is for five seasons, with $18M AAV. That already is very expensive, but add the fact that the Ducks would get four out the next five first round picks from Philly, it suddenly becomes a very risky ordeal.
Carlsson is only 21 and has grown into a superstar, but you can get a ton of talent with four first round selections and that much money is just insane. If Anaheim wanted to, they could match the deal and retain Carlsson, but they only have seven days to do so and he is of course insanely expensive now. If that is the new norm of the NHL, then there is going to be absolute chaos. The Ducks have said before that they will try to match any offer sheet, but they will be tasked with a diffucult decision with the the expense of the deal and the potential return.
Utah could've traded for someone bigger than they did, and throw a ton of money at an extension. However, the Mammoth decided to keep a lot of youth and assets while still gaining some veterans in Vincent Trocheck and Anders Lee. The team is focused on building up to contention and not throwing almost 20 million dollars at a superstar. After all, why not have Trocheck and Lee for under 12 million then pay for one player that is about 18 million.
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