Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – July 5, 2026
In the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup: the effect of Leo Carlsson’s offer sheet on the contract negotiations for Connor Bedard and Adam Fantilli, what it could mean for future RFAs, plus the latest on Dylan Larkin and Claude Giroux.
HOW WILL CARLSSON’S OFFER SHEET AFFECT BEDARD AND FANTILLI?
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: Ben Pope reports Blackhawks center Connor Bedard, Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli, and Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson were waiting to see which one would set the market for their new contracts.
Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (NHL Images)
The trio are restricted free agents coming off their entry-level contracts. On Friday, Carlsson signed a five-year offer sheet with the Philadelphia Flyers worth a league-leading average annual value of $18 million.
Pope doubted that Bedard would be targeted with an offer sheet for several reasons, including the center’s frequent communication with Blackhawks management and his intention to remain with the franchise for the long term. Still, nothing can be ruled out after Carlsson signed with the Flyers.
Before the Carlsson offer sheet, a new contract for Bedard might have cost the Blackhawks between $13 and $16 million, assuming it went the maximum of eight years. Now, the Bedard camp could seek $18 million or more, up to the league maximum of $20.8 million.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Sam Carchidi wondered if Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli might be the Flyers’ next target if the Ducks match the offer sheet for Leo Carlsson.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell just came off a difficult week, during which he nearly traded Zach Werenski to the Dallas Stars amid reports that the defenseman wouldn’t sign a contract extension next summer, plus he had to deal with a similar contract situation with winger Kirill Marchenko.
While those situations have been resolved, at least for now, the effect of the Carlsson offer sheet on his contract negotiations with Fantilli could be another headache for Waddell.
Whatever figure Waddell was offering the Fantilli camp, he will likely have to raise it significantly if he hopes to re-sign the 21-year-old center, and now there’s the possibility that Fantilli could sign an offer sheet from a rival club.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Stefen Rosner believes the Carlsson offer sheet likely means the New York Islanders won’t wait to sign Calder Trophy-winning defenseman Matthew Schaefer to a contract extension when he becomes eligible to do so next July 1.
Rosner wondered how high Schaefer’s next contract would be because of the Carlsson offer sheet. He speculated around $20 million annually on a seven-year deal.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It must be remembered that a player must be willing to sign an offer sheet. If Schaefer becomes a restricted free agent in two years, he could tell his agent that he’s not interested in any offers from other teams, giving him and the Islanders the breathing space necessary if contract negotiations take longer than expected to hammer out a deal over the summer.
Nevertheless, the Carlsson situation will likely force teams with rising young stars to sign them to contract extensions as soon as possible, rather than risk them becoming offer-sheet targets when they become restricted free agents.
THE LATEST ON DYLAN LARKIN AND CLAUDE GIROUX
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Danny Webster explains why it would be difficult for the Golden Knights to acquire center Dylan Larkin from the Detroit Red Wings.
Larkin, 29, requested a trade a month ago, with the Golden Knights among the clubs on his three-team trade list.
Webster doesn’t think the Golden Knights have sufficient tradeable assets to acquire Larkin. They do possess two first-round picks in 2028, unless the one they received from the New York Rangers in the Pavel Dorofeyev trade lands in the top-10, in which case, it becomes a 2029 first-rounder.
However, the Red Wings aren’t seeking futures for Larkin; they want a return that will help them immediately, preferably a center. Webster doesn’t see the Golden Knights gutting their roster to accomplish this.
The Golden Knights aren’t giving up Jack Eichel, who has full no-trade protection. William Karlsson is in the final season of his contract and isn’t going anywhere. Hertl has a three-team trade list, but he prefers playing for teams in warm-weather climates.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s believed the Minnesota Wild is Larkin’s primary trade target. They are reportedly keen to get him, but meeting the Red Wings’ asking price has proven difficult thus far.
For those folks who might still be wondering why Karlsson isn’t going anywhere or why he wouldn’t be a good fit with the Red Wings: He’s 33 years old, often injured, and the Red Wings are likely on his 10-team no-trade list.
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch noted a report on Friday claimed the Philadelphia Flyers were poised to sign Claude Giroux. However, the 38-year-old forward has not made a decision yet on which club he’s signing with for next season.
The Flyers and Giroux’s former team, the Ottawa Senators, are still in the mix for Giroux. Garrioch claimed the Toronto Maple Leafs have reached out and remain “keenly interested.” The Edmonton Oilers made a pitch, but they’re reportedly no longer interested.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers’ signing of Leo Carlsson to an offer sheet on Friday likely paused their discussions with the Giroux camp until they learn whether their efforts to land the Ducks’ center have been successful. Whether Giroux’s willing to wait remains to be seen.
If I were the Senators’ GM, Giroux would be waiting until Hell freezes over. Sign someone else from the UFA market, Staios, and move on from someone who just told his ex-Ottawa teammates that, in his considered opinion, they’re not good enough.
Who the Hell would want THAT attitude back in the mix.
GeorgeO your riding your emotions and rightfully so,but todays agents and young athletes are riding a new economic spectrum that s hard for us older people to relate to. What do you think like guys in the Bobby Orr era think?
When has being honest a bad thing? It’s not like he’s someone who wouldn’t know or have intimate knowledge, a lot more than any of us would ever know, to be able to say that. He’s not wrong. His team fell short and in the manner and timeline of unsuccessful campaigns is just not acceptable.
I get that the future looked bright, signing all those players that looked great at team friendly deals much like many smart teams do, like the Habs have recently done, only to see years later those players aren’t the right mix and both players and team needs to be much better. Two 1st round exits, very unsuccessful and underperforming series, one being a sweep and the other to a close hated rival after a decade in the wilderness of mediocrity. No fans should defend that and then ostracize players that also won’t stand for it. The type of player/person/character is welcome on my team.
Read what I said again. And then point to where I said he shouldn’t have that right.
My sole point is, if I were a member of the team I wouldn’t exactly welcome back with open arms a guy who just finished saying we’re inferior.
But if someone else was under performing you would not stand for it right? That’s how I see what he’s doing, exactly what we would and expect.
Your point of others accepting him back after berating them in the press, if deserving, valid. Like I said above, even with all the good intentions and actions, if the team is failing to succeed, they need to change and be better.
While we are all quick to point out how the Leafs can’t get past the first round and a “rebuild” is needed, we overlook how it’s taken the Sens that long or more to be able to just make the playoffs. – with poor showings in each of their only two times.
The good news is they are on the right path but more guys like Giroux need to realize they are not good enough and need more fire to get where they want to get to. I know it feels crappy but we are all here to support one another when our teams do stupid things that ruin our day and reel you back in to let you know, your right and it sucks or it will be fine, especially if certain things happen.
After all, Giroux is acting like that squeaky wheel looking for that oil it expects to get.
Don’t forget they named Tkachuk as captain…probably as is Larkin not worthy to be captain let alone be considered leaders and put Hughes in that category…and Ottawa will do better with both Giroux and Tkachuk gone
This argument that a player should be basically 100% loyal because at some point they were named captain is silly.
I’m all for a player with a NTC/NMC losing it if they ask to be traded but teams trade players all the time without loyalty.
It’s like working for any company, if you’re not aligned on the vision even if you’re a leader, then why do you want to stay? Maybe 5 years ago the vision aligned and along the way your leader changed how it’s going to be done and you’re not aligned anymore. The expectation that you just put up with it is silly.
I truly believe players with NTC/NMC, the teams shouldn’t be allowed to ask them to waive it and if a player requests a trade, they lose it, or it becomes a 15 teams NTC, they shouldn’t be able to hold the team over a barrel either.
There have been numerous comments that the Ducks should decline to match the offer sheet, take the 4 picks and call the Wings about Larkin. Lyle, not for the first time, posts information that this is a no-go. The Wings don’t want picks for Larkin. They want a top flight NHLer. Otherwise they’ll hold on to Larkin.
Trade leo to det after matching for Larkin
Det gets a center back ama gets cap space to sign gauthier and company
Cant I believe they have to keep Leo for 1 year after matching an offer sheet.
Leo for Larkin straight up? Wings would have to add more to make this deal.
And have him skate out there with 22 other guys he just effectively labelled “crud” insofar as getting to the playoffs is concerned. That should make for a great team atmosphere.
One thing for sure … he wouldn’t be wearing the C.
George O
Perhaps at his age and point in his career, he is trying to get into an opportunity to win a Cup?
Ottawa has made some nice additions. They may have fared better in the playoffs if their D corps wasn’t mostly injured.
Losing in 4 to the eventual Cup champs who basically steamrolled everyone isn’t so terrible.
Perhaps with Brady gone the team will be better…addition by subtraction?
My thoughts exactly. Giroux probably views Ottawa as being two years away. So he is looking around to see if teams a little further along. So if Colorado, Carolina,Tampa, Dallas, Vegas and, yes, Florida are interested, I can understand him signing $1million deal with one of them. And Philly, if they get to keep Carlsson, might make some sense too.
Not only won’t he be wearing the C, I’d let Arvidsson keep his #71 and tell Larkin to pick a new number. That said, with the recent signings, even a disgruntled Larkin @ $8.5 is beginning to look a a steal. I’d keep him and tell him to honor his contract.
Pulling the goalie,who are you spiting by changing Larkins number. Do you think Arvy wants anything to do with that going to a new team? Do you think. McKenna is going to wear 72 instead of Bob?
Larkin for sign and trade for Robo plus Harley and I think SY will pull the trigger
I know it’s a tough pill for NILL TO swallow, but if you need another center?
Jim Nill is not parting with Robertson and Harley for Larkin because he isn’t worth that much. One or the other, maybe, and even then, that’s debatable. But not both.
GeorgeO,I always considered hockey the ultimate team sport,but with today’s modern athlete realistically that takes a backseat to their own production including salaries.The status and role of captains I believe has changed. Before they won the cup,how many people really knew that Jordan Staal was their captain?
Sr
Not spite, but Larkin has said he doesn’t want to be in Detroit. Arvidsson made a choice to come. It’s not as if the Wings are going to someday retire Larkin’s jersey, so I would choose the give the guy who willingly wants to be there the choice to keep his number. Take care of the people that want to work for you first.
SR – Money will do that. These guys are seeing bucks that the previous generation could only dream of. The most Gretzky ever made in one year was $6.54M. Silly money can change team players.
I understand cap rising but, Brierre has done a disservice to the league with this offer sheet to Carlsson. What was the highest extension before this for a player coming off an entry level deal? 18mil is insane for a kid that while a good player, isn’t noticeably better than his peers. If Ducks take picks they’re a weaker team after making huge jump making playoffs.
Hockey is a business,,,Brière is doing his job as GM…Philly is getting better, younger and faster; it’s maybe part of his job description and by the way the league seems to be doing quite well
Slick62,the disservice to the team is the language in the contracts that protects the players. GM S giving out NMC and NTC only to have the players change midstream is the problem.After Kaprizov and Guerin raised the stakes to 17 million,what did you think was the next step?
I agree, Slick. Now a bunch of these young kids and agents will use this signing as a comparable and will hamstring their teams. Teams like Florida, Carolina and Montreal that have cost effective signings will have a huge advantage. Most likely it was luck before this huge Offer sheet was signed, but players will have to choose between money and cups.
Don’t buy that, Slick, it’s pro sports.
Money’s the driver for the sport.
If Briere has made a bad bet, we’ll know soon enough. Enjoy the ride.
Slick
There are only a few ways to get a #1 C in the NHL.
Draft one with a high draft pick.
Trade for one by trading away multiple pieces, thus weakening your team
Lastly, poach another team’s #1 C because the GM likes to play hardball with his young players and traded away his #2 C before getting his #1 C to sign an extension.
Verbeek made a big mistake trading MacTavish before signing Carlsson.
While the number is outrageous, it had to be high enough, and structured in a way, that it would take careful thought to match or decline.
Verbeek gambled and lost. He may have another one on his hands with Mintyukov.
I wonder if there was any conversation with DET about a MacT for Larkin deal prior to the draft? I know ANA wasn’t on Larkin’s list but they had a good season and playoffs. Perhaps with a little coaxing Larkin may have agreed to go to ANA?
A mistake to trade McT, yes. But he was NOT the Duck’s 2C.
Slick, you’re spot on. I kinda hope Ducks don’t match. This asinine offer sheet just blew up so many teams salary structures. Please stop with the “it’s just a business” narrative.
It’s not a business?
Philly had to throw out an inflated number to make it hard or impossible for Verbeek to match. Business.
2-3 days before this offer sheet happened, I actually posted here that I was surprised there was literally zero chatter on a Carlsson offer sheets.
I also said that it would take 17 million or north of 17 to make it work.
It is now being reported that Carlssson received FIVE offer sheets.
Apparently, 5 gms see something in Carlsson the way I do.
I’m not so sure that a lot of people have really watched this player. 18 per is definitely a bit inflated. But this guy is looking to be another Barkov with more offensive upside.
Personally, I thought an offer sheet would have been 2-3 years to make it more palatable down the road when he hits his mid 20s.
I wonder if Philly made a trade offer for Carlsson first before going the offer sheet.
Also, what will the dressing room be like knowing your best player was ready to bail on the team for money. Don’t blame him for signing but the dressing room dynamics is a big deal.
Sebastien Aho signed that offer sheet from the Habs and it didn’t change his perception in the room. The players knows why you would accept the offer sheet. It also didn’t force Carolina to look at Aho poorly either for doing so.
Don’t sign Carlsson and use 2 of the first round draft picks on DeBrusk and Pettersson.
I really do think Pettersson would be a good fit in Anaheim.
Jeff, maybe this would work:
To the Ducks….Larkin
To the Wings………Petey ($1.6M retained)
To Van a couple 1sts and a B prospect or a 3rd
On the other hand. Verbeek known for being a hard negotiator and squeezing every nickel out of his young stars got a taste of his own medicine.
Check the structure of the contract Philly offered. It is all signing bonus and min salary. Anaheim’s owner has been cheap, so I honestly think they take the picks and work on a deal with Det or Van for their centers.
Honest question here and my apologies if it has been addressed before..
I get collusion but have any GMs worked with others to lock down contracts for RFAs?
i.e. GM 1 tells GM 2 if you offer sheet my guy to this contract(gives him break down) and he accepts I will then match it and have him in the contract I had wanted to negotiate but they turned down..length or amount was sticking point.
In exchange that deal we were working on goes from a future to a 3rd or whatever..
I say that because if you look back at the Aho offer sheet, Carolina got a sweet deal matching it.
8.5 X 5
Steve: There was no collusion involved in Sebastian Aho’s deal. It was the result of Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin thinking he could take advantage of the Hurricanes salary-cap limitations.
At the time, The Hurricanes and Aho were about $2 million per season apart in contract negotiations. Bergevin believed Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon wouldn’t match his $8.5 million annually for five years, which would’ve only cost the Habs a first, a second, and a third-round pick. Had Bergevin offered more, his attempt might’ve succeeded, but he underestimated Dundon, who was pissed off by Bergevin’s attempt to poach Aho. Even if it left the Hurricanes in a bit of a short-term cap crunch, he wasn’t going to let Aho get signed away by Montreal.
Two years later, the Hurricanes took revenge by signing away Jesperi Kotkaniemi, though that didn’t turn out as they hoped.
The players are not going to look at Leo and think any different of him. The players motto should be get paid first…once you have nest egg you can start looking at team friendly deals….maybe. One bad concussion, one bad knee on knee…one Achilles injury can change everything for an athlete. They all realize this and no player is going to grumble about a player signing a deal that they too would given the chance.