Can the Anaheim Ducks build a Stanley Cup contender around an $18 million player?

The Anaheim Ducks have matched an offer sheet signed by 21-year-old center Leo Carlsson with the Philadelphia Flyers, retaining the Swedish prospect on a five-year, $90 million contract averaging $18 million per year. Approximately 95 percent of the deal is structured as signing bonuses. Carlsson, selected second overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, is viewed as the cornerstone of the Ducks' long-term rebuild.