Carlsson ready to deliver on expectations after new deal with Ducks

LAS VEGAS – Leo Carlsson isn’t feeling any pressure despite owning one of the richest contracts in the NHL.

The forward signed a five-year, $90 million contract ($18 million average annual value) on July 9 with the Anaheim Ducks, who matched the offer sheet the Philadelphia Flyers tendered to Carlsson on July 3.

A lot of expectations come with that but for Carlsson, it’s just par for the course.

“There’s been pressure all the time since I got into the League,” he said at the NHL/NHLPA North American Player Media Tour at City National Arena on Wednesday. “Getting drafted second overall (in the 2023 NHL Draft), some people thought I shouldn’t. There’s obviously a little more pressure now but it’s nothing that I can’t handle.”

Yes, Carlsson is confident. So are the Ducks, who qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs last year for the first time since 2017-18. Anaheim was eliminated by the Vegas Golden Knights, who advanced to the Stanley Cup Final, in six games in the Western Conference Second Round.

Part of that confidence comes from defeating the Edmonton Oilers in six games in the first round. The Oilers had been to the Stanley Cup Final two straight seasons, losing to the Florida Panthers both times. It was a tough test facing the Oilers and two of the League’s best forwards in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, but the Ducks were up to it.

“We had a few guys that were really hard on them, too. Jackson LaCombe played a huge, huge part in this series, just basically doing a great job of shutting down McDavid, which is probably the hardest job in the world,” Carlsson said. “We just had a perfect balance. It’s always hard to come into their place as well, the fans are screaming and the place is rocking.

“We should be really proud of what we did. It brings a lot of confidence to know that we can be a really, really good team and we can compete against the best.”

The 21-year-old is coming off his best NHL season, with career highs in goals (29), assists (38) and points (67) in 70 regular-season games and 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 12 postseason games last season. When the Flyers tendered the offer sheet to Carlsson, he was the second player to get one this offseason after the New Jersey Devils signed forward Barrett Hayton to a one-year, $4.775 million contract on July 1. The Utah Mammoth announced one week later that they were matching the contract.

For Carlsson, the whole thing was crazy.

“Yeah, because it was so unexpected, that’s why. I mean, (Cale) Makar, you know those guys are going to sign big contracts,” Carlsson said of the Colorado Avalanche defenseman, who signed an eight-year, $163.2 million contract with a League-record $20.4 million AAV on Aug. 28.

“We didn’t know (the Flyers) were going to offer sheet me like that. It’s special.”

And for a brief time, Carlsson was the highest paid player in the NHL.

“Yeah, we knew. My team knew it was going to be for a short time. It was fun for a while,” Carlsson said with a smile. “I’m not complaining at all.”

Now it’s on to this season and getting a playoff appearance streak going.

“The expectations are higher than last seasons were,” Carlsson said. “Our expectations are to make the playoffs again because we know we can do it.”