The Leo Carlsson Sweepstakes: Who Really Won the Offer Sheet Wars

The Ducks matched an offer sheet for Leo Carlsson, but the real story isn't just about keeping their young star in Anaheim. This saga exposed which teams were willing to spend assets to pry away a restricted free agent and which front offices played it safe during a chaotic offseason. The ripple effects of this negotiation will shape how teams approach RFA negotiations for years to come, and the winners and losers in this chess match reveal plenty about the current state of NHL asset management.