If you’re an Anaheim Ducks fan, the phrase “offer sheet” might just send a shiver down your spine this offseason. Rumors are swirling that rival general managers are circling the waters, and it all boils down to a highly specific, often-overlooked clause in the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The burning question: Why is Leo Carlsson eligible to receive a massive offer sheet this summer, while other elite young Restricted Free Agents (RFAs) like Cutter Gauthier, Collin Graf, Alexander Nikishin, and Nikita Grebenkin are strictly off-limits?
The answer lies in Accrued Professional Seasons. To be eligible to sign an offer sheet upon the expiration of an Entry-Level Contract (ELC), a player must qualify as a Group 2 RFA. This requires banking a set number of professional seasons (typically three). If a player’s contract expires without hitting that threshold, they become a 10.2(c) RFA. These players have zero leverage, no arbitration rights, and cannot sign offer sheets.
As a front-office analyst, I constantly look at how GMs map out their summers. Let’s dive into why Carlsson is the outlier, and why the Anaheim Ducks need to get their checkbook ready immediately.
The CBA Rule Dictating Leo Carlsson’s Future
When Leo Carlsson was drafted second overall in 2023, he signed his three-year ELC at 18 years old and immediately jumped into the NHL. He played 55 games in 2023-24, 76 games in 2024-25, and has established himself as a dynamic first-line anchor in 2025-26.
Under the CBA, an “accrued professional season” for a player of his signing age requires suiting up for at least 10 professional games. Because Carlsson comfortably cleared that hurdle in all three years of his ELC, he will officially hit July 1 as a full Group 2 RFA. Rival teams recognize that a franchise center with his vision and size is incredibly rare, making him the prime candidate for a maximum-value offer sheet designed to put the Anaheim Ducks in a salary cap bind.
Leo Carlsson Career NHL Stats
| Type | GP | G | A | P | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Season | 195 | 58 | 79 | 137 | -3 |
| Playoffs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Why the Ducks Must Act Fast Before Free Agency
Compare Carlsson’s situation to his own teammate, Cutter Gauthier. Gauthier signed his ELC late in the 2023-24 season, playing exactly one NHL game. Because one game is fewer than the 10 required, that year didn’t count as an accrued season. Gauthier will reach the end of his deal with only two accrued seasons, locking him into the 10.2(c) category alongside players like Nikishin and Grebenkin, who had delayed arrivals from Russia and Collin Graf.
These 10.2(c) RFAs are safely insulated from offer sheets. The Ducks don’t have to sweat a predatory move on Gauthier. But Carlsson? He holds all the cards. Anaheim’s front office must prioritize a long-term extension before rival executives get the chance to draft an offer sheet that could completely reset the center market.
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