SHOCK: Carlsson Signs Massive Offer Sheet; How Are Sharks Affected?

Wow. Leo Carlsson of the Anaheim Ducks just signed a massive offer sheet that will change the landscape of the NHL and the San Jose Sharks.

The Ducks now have seven days to match the Philadelphia Flyers‘ offer to Carlsson. If they don’t, the Flyers send their next four first-round picks as compensation. Reports on Thursday said the Ducks would match any offer.

Offer sheets in any sport (like the NBA) with a contract structure like the NHL are rare. But when they happen, they can alter franchises. Carlsson is a great player, there’s no question about it. In 70 games last season, the Ducks center had 67 points (29 goals, 38 assists).

News like this won’t directly affect the San Jose Sharks this season, but it could in the future. Will Smith and Macklin Celebrini are due extensions after the 26-27 season. Carlsson’s expected extension was nowhere near $18 million per season. If it were at $12 million AAV, that could’ve set the market for top-end players like Connor Bedard and Smith.

Smith is a winger now, and while he likely won’t be as good as Carlsson or Bedard in the long run, his asking price just got a whole lot higher. GM Mike Grier told reporters on Thursday that he ran the numbers and was comfortable with all the upcoming cap space to sign Smith, Celebrini, Collin Graf, Michael Misa, and more. Looking at the contract Jacob Trouba signed and the one they absorbed for Darnell Nurse, there might be some buyer’s remorse.

“We’ve done our work on the numbers,” Grier said. “It’s just making sure when those extensions kick in that we still maintain some flexibility to improve the group and add players. With the (NHL salary cap) going up, and we’ll still have some younger guys on cheaper contracts, we’ll be able to maneuver over these next three or four years.”

So while Smith won’t make as much as Carlsson, especially now, the huge deal that Carlsson signed just made him more expensive, probably.

Turning to Celebrini’s next San Jose Sharks contract, that’s where fear comes in. Celebrini is better than Carlsson. That isn’t a question. 115 points in 82 games, Olympic silver medalist, future captain, and the stamp of approval from elite NHL superstars today.

By nature, Celebrini deserves to be amongst the highest-paid players in the NHL. Before this contract, Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov was set to be the highest-paid player. His extension kicks in this summer with an AAV of $17 million. Carlsson now beats that. Neither of those players is Celebrini.

The Sharks’ best hope and outcome is that Celebrini takes the Sidney Crosby route. Crosby, who is Celerbini’s idol, has taken massive contract discounts to stay with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Although Celebrini will make more than Sid’s iconic $8.7 million AAV, he could come closer to Connor McDavid’s $12.5 million. Both Crosby and McDavid are underpaid, but they want their team to have flexibility.

If Celebrini takes a discount, by however much less than Carlsson, that is a win for the Sharks. No player on the Sharks will make more than Celebrini, given his status on the team, which could help keep costs down for Smith and the rest of the future RFAs.

And after all that is said here, the NHL might have yet another offer sheet incoming.