What’s next for the Ducks and Flyers now that the Leo Carlsson offer sheet saga is over? Which players could become offer-sheet targets? What’s the latest on Canucks center Elias Pettersson? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE DUCKS AND FLYERS?

THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens wondered if the Anaheim Ducks could build a Stanley Cup contender around an $18 million player.

On Thursday, the Ducks matched the five-year, $90 million offer sheet that Leo Carlsson signed with the Philadelphia Flyers last Friday. His $18 million AAV is the highest in NHL history, taking up 17.30 percent of the Ducks’ salary cap for this season.

“Now the Ducks will try to ice a winner with a top-heavy financial structure in the same vein that the Minnesota Wild will proceed with Kirill Kaprizov and his eight-year, $136 million ($17 million AAV) contract taking effect in the coming season,” Stephens wrote.

Anaheim Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier (NHL Images).

The Ducks’ next task is signing restricted free-agent winger Cutter Gauthier, who tallied a team-leading 41 goals and 69 points last season. The 22-year-old Gauthier is ineligible to sign an offer sheet, but that probably won’t stop him from seeking an AAV over $10 million.

With just over $9 million in cap space, the Ducks will have to shed salary to create room for Gauthier’s new contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It could take the Ducks most of the offseason to hammer out a new contract with Gauthier. They still hold leverage because of the winger’s lack of arbitration rights, but playing hardball probably isn’t a good idea after making Carlsson the highest-paid player in the league for this season.

Their cost-cutting trade candidates could include wingers Chris Kreider or Alex Killorn (15-team no-trade clauses). Frank Vatrano (seven-team NTC) is the more likely option, but his declining play and injury history could make him harder to move.

Another concern is their defense corps, which lost two experienced blueliners with the departures of Jacob Trouba and John Carlson. Apart from the 35-year-old Nick Jensen, the rest of their top-six rearguards are 25 and younger. They might’ve had sufficient room to add one or two veteran defensemen if not for the Carlsson offer sheet, but that’s out the window now.

THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz doesn’t expect Philadelphia Flyers general manager Daniel Briere to target another player with an offer sheet after his effort to land Leo Carlsson was matched.

The Flyers’ glaring need for a first-line center remains. However, a Flyers team source indicated that the offer sheet for Carlsson was as much about circumstances as it was about the player. Their offer was well-planned, designed to put economic pressure on the Ducks to let Carlsson go.

Kurz expects the Flyers will likely turn to adding some depth players to support their promising youngsters. They must also re-sign winger Trevor Zegras and defenseman Jamie Drysdale, who filed for salary arbitration on Sunday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some folks might suggest the Flyers pursue Dylan Larkin, but that’s not happening unless the Detroit Red Wings center is willing to expand his list of destinations to include Philadelphia. So far, he’s only added the Dallas Stars to his list, which also includes the Minnesota Wild (his prime destination), Vegas Golden Knights (who lack suitable tradeable assets) and the Florida Panthers (ditto, because they won’t part with Anton Lundell).

WHAT OTHER POTENTIAL OFFER SHEET TARGETS ARE AVAILABLE THIS SUMMER?

THE SCORE: Michael Bradburn listed the restricted free agents who are eligible to receive offer sheets this summer.

Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks and Adam Fantilli of the Columbus Blue Jackets headline the forwards. Bedard is sidelined for four months, recovering from shoulder surgery.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blackhawks and Blue Jackets also have plenty of salary-cap space, meaning a club will have to overpay significantly to have any chance of successfully signing Bedard or Fantilli. Based on Kurz’s report, the Flyers aren’t looking at going the offer-sheet route again this summer.

Bradburn singled out Simon Edvinsson of the Detroit Red Wings and Arber Xhekaj of the Montreal Canadiens as the most intriguing options among the defensemen.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Forget about landing Edvinsson unless you’re willing to offer him well over $12 million annually. That’s the amount the Red Wings have reportedly set aside in case someone signs the 21-year-old blueliner. As for Xhekaj, a rival club could pursue him, but that might be more through a trade than an offer sheet.

THE LATEST ON ELIAS PETTERSSON

CHEK-TV’s Rick Dhaliwal reports there’s been lots of trade talk about Elias Pettersson. However, the Vancouver Canucks have not asked the 27-year-old center to waive his no-movement clause.

“Lots of chatter but don’t believe anything is close,” Dhaliwal tweeted.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: As always, Pettersson’s expensive contract and the decline in his play over the past two years remain significant sticking points that are difficult to surmount.