NEW YORK. A shock.
There is no other way to describe the offer sheet that makes Leo Carlsson the NHL’s best-paid player in one fell swoop.
No Swedish hockey player has ever been involved in a similar deal in North America.
But he is worth it, “The Pope”.
The term “shock” is not an exaggeration in context, I know that for sure, because when the news came I was in the middle of a podcast recording with Jonathan Ekeliw and my reaction was a straight howl straight into the ear of “Ekan”. Which in turn then barely managed to breathe for the following minutes.
It is thus the case that the Philadelphia Flyers are trying to “poach” Leo Carlsson from Anaheim with a so-called offer sheet that gives him eighteen million dollars per season for five years – that is, a total of 90 million dollars, or 867 million kroner.
The Ducks have seven days to match that offer, so regardless of what this mega-bang turns out to be, the 21-year-old Warmlander will become the NHL’s highest-paid player. The one who tops the list right now – Minnesota’s Kirill Kaprizov – gets “only” seventeen million dollars.
Most likely, the Ducks will match the offer
No other Swedish NHL star has ever been involved in a similar deal. Not “Foppa”, not Mats Sundin, not Nicklas Lidström. No.
But “Pope Leo” is worth it, I think. Oh the most most definite. He was already sensational last season, will be a bona fide superstar in a few years and would create a whole new reality for the Flyers at once. Leo and the equally divinely talented Porter Martone together…oh, they haven’t seen a duo like that on Broad Street in Philly since the “Legion of doom” days.
Most likely, however, the Ducks will match the offer. The future, which until this heavy summer Friday looked exceptionally bright, would darken dramatically if Leo suddenly disappears and the general manager Pat Verbeek has previously said that he will respond with one hundred percent certainty, regardless of what the Swedish first center is offered, so now it’s just a matter of opening the plus box.
At the same time, he can put on a big stupid horn and parade around for the rest of the summer, because he has had the whole winter to agree on a probably much more moderate contract extension with his most important player, but chose to drag out the process and now it costs the shirt to keep him instead.
Miserliness deceives wisdom – even in the midst of the dollar rain in American professional leagues.
The sales are here – tips on shops with discounts:
Sale at Lindex – up to 70%
Popular hair care – up to 30% off
Summer sale at Stronger – up to 50%
Fashion bargains – up to 70% off
Summer sale at Flattered – up to 50%!
The sale is on – up to 70% off
Up to 50% at Cellbe’s summer sale!
Bargain at Björn Borg – up to 40%
30% discount at Ellos when buying 2 items
Sale on outdoor clothing – up to 40%!
Up to 60% on training clothes and shoes
