The Ducks are making one thing clear: if an offer sheet comes their way for Leo Carlsson, they’re ready to match it.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that Anaheim has already told some teams it would match any offer sheet for the 21-year-old center. The Ducks also kept their free-agent activity modest on purpose, leaving themselves the cap room to handle that kind of move.
Carlsson’s value has surged after his best NHL season yet in 2025-26. He scored 29 goals and added 38 assists in 70 games, a big step forward for the player selected second overall in 2023.
He’s tracking toward the kind of all-around top-center role the Ducks envisioned, and that means the next contract is likely to be a major one - max term and a double-digit AAV. By signaling that it will match, Anaheim is trying to keep control of the process and set the terms itself.
That kind of situation can stretch negotiations deep into the summer.
Elsewhere, the Flames made a strong run at Mason McTavish before he stayed in Anaheim. Sportsnet’s Eric Francis reported that Calgary put together a serious pitch last week, but it couldn’t top St.
Louis’ offer of the 15th and 29th overall picks. Calgary held the sixth pick and wasn’t going to include that, and while it also had the 30th selection, it couldn’t match the value of No.
- The Flames had already moved multiple picks to bring in Simon Nemec, and this wasn’t about accelerating the rebuild.
It was about adding younger players who can grow into their prime as Calgary comes out of it - exactly the type of fit McTavish would have been.
And on the free-agent market, Georgii Merkulov is still waiting on an NHL opportunity. Mark Divver of the New England Hockey Journal reported that the unrestricted free-agent forward has interest overseas, but he’s hoping to land an NHL contract instead.
The 25-year-old has appeared in 11 games for Boston over the last three seasons and has one assist. In the minors, though, he’s been productive, averaging 60 points per season over the last three years with AHL Providence.
That should make him a candidate for a two-way deal somewhere, especially since he doesn’t count toward veteran status in the AHL yet.
In Other News...
Another Flames Depth Gamble Just Quietly Slipped Away
Johnny Beechers latest stop came together quickly once free agency opened, and it was a reminder of how fluid depth forward spots can be around the NHL. A former first-round pick, Beecher has bounced between the NHL and AHL and spent most of last season split between Boston and Calgary after the Bruins waived him and the Flames claimed him in November.
The fit in Calgary never fully settled, with injuries and a suspension trimming his time with the club, but the Flames still got a look at a big-bodied center they hoped could add some organization down the middle. Instead, Beecher moved on to Florida on a one-year, two-way deal, another small but notable turnover item for a Calgary roster that keeps trying to find inexpensive bottom-six answers without sacrificing flexibility. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Land Jacob Middleton In Costly Blue Line Shakeup
Calgary is making a significant blue-line move, landing Jacob Middleton from Minnesota as it looks to add size and stability on defense. Middleton has spent the last five seasons with the Wild and arrives with a reputation as a physical, dependable two-way defender, the kind of player who can change the look of a back end that has been searching for more toughness and structure.
The cost is steep, which tells you how much the Flames valued the fit. Middleton is entering the second year of a four-year deal with a $4.35 million cap hit, and Calgary is parting with notable assets to get the deal done, including a second-round pick. For a club trying to reshape its defense, the question now is whether the upgrade on the ice will justify the price paid to make it happen. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Just Made A Veteran Trade That Says Plenty About The Plan
The Flames took another step toward reshaping the roster by moving out two veterans with championship experience in a deal with Minnesota, a move that suggests Calgary is still threading the needle between todays lineup and tomorrows flexibility. The trade also came with contract maneuvering, as the Flames agreed to retain half of one players cap hit, a reminder that these kinds of transactions are as much about managing the books as they are about altering the depth chart.
In return, Calgary brought back defenseman Jake Middleton and a package of picks that helps stock the future pipeline, giving the club more options as it continues to recalibrate. For a team still sorting out its next phase, the deal fits the broader picture: add assets, keep some salary space in check, and keep the door open for more movement if the right opportunity comes along. [Read more 🡒]