The New Jersey Devils are patiently waiting for the Utah Mammoth’s decision on an offer sheet to center Barrett Hayton. On Wednesday, Sunny Mehta finds out if his big move pays off or if he has to pivot to someone else. Whenever an offer sheet is signed, NHL fans are incredibly excited. It’s one of those seldom-used opportunities that everyone wonders why it’s not targeted more often.
And just like that, another offer sheet comes through the door. This time, the Philadelphia Flyers put four first-round picks on the line in order to get a top-line center. Hayton is not going to be that for the Devils, which is why his compensation is just a second-round pick.Â
That’s the difference between Hayton and Leo Carlsson. It’s about $13 million.
The Anaheim Ducks star was signed to a record-breaking contract that will pay him an average annual salary of $18 million. No player in the history of the league has signed such a guarantee. That is what it took for the Flyers to put the pressure on the Ducks.
What really hurts for the Ducks is that, while they have a ton of cap space, they have spent like sailors and now have a decision to make.
Already this offseason, they’ve given A.J. Greer $4.25 million per season, Pavel Mintyukov $7.2 million, and Nick Jensen $4.5 million. That right there is $16 million for three players, none of whom are really stars.Â
If the Ducks accept the price and sign Carlsson to the five-year deal, they will have less than $10 million in salary cap space. They still have to re-sign Cutter Gauthier. He might demand a similar contract to Carlsson, as he’s considered by many to be the better player. More valuable? That’s a different conversation, but the future of the Ducks relies on the growth of these young players. Without Carlsson and Gauthier signed long-term, the Ducks might be in a bad situation.Â
But giving record contracts to all their stars also puts them in trouble, especially for a guy with the reputation of their GM Pat Verbeek. He can’t keep his current persona if he is giving out more money than any other GM.
What if a team could help the Ducks out? What if that team had an interest in the Flyers not getting a great player entering his prime?
The New Jersey Devils can help the Ducks clear some cap space
The Ducks have some undesirable contracts on the books for next season. One is Chris Kreider, who is making $6.5 million against the salary cap next season. Mikael Granlund is making $7 million per season over the next two years. Frank Vatrano is a contract the Ducks would love to rid themselves of, paying him just under $5 million over the next two years.Â
The Devils could make contracts work and afford any of those players in the right situation. Vatrano is a detriment to any team, but the Devils aren’t only helping the Ducks to hurt the Flyers. There has to be compensation here.Â
Even before the Flyers' compensation, the Ducks have all of their future picks plus two additional second-round picks in 2027 (Blues and Red Wings). Would the Devils demand a first-round pick to help the Ducks, or could they accept multiple second-round picks?Â
It sounds rich, but the Ducks are in a bind, and they won’t need those picks as much as they need cap space. They have to dump a contract, and the Devils can be the facilitator without losing much from the NHL roster.Â
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