The Anaheim Ducks just got through one offer sheet headache. Now another one might be on the way.
Leo Carlsson signed an offer sheet with the Philadelphia Flyers earlier this week, forcing Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek to either match or let a promising forward walk. He matched. But according to Frank Seravalli, defenseman Pavel Mintyukov is the next player in line for the same treatment.
Seravalli reported that the Ducks have been notified an offer sheet is pending for Mintyukov. He also said the looming sheet will likely result in a deal in Anaheim because Mintyukov wants to stay a Duck. That sounds like a win for the team on paper, but it’s still another situation Verbeek has to manage. And after the way the Carlsson negotiations played out, the optics aren’t great.
The pattern is starting to look real
Mintyukov was taken 10th overall in 2022. He hasn’t cracked the Ducks lineup consistently, but with Jacob Trouba, Radko Gudas, and John Carlson all leaving in free agency, Anaheim suddenly needs defensemen. That gives Mintyukov more leverage than he might have had otherwise. And it’s not like Verbeek has a reputation for smooth RFA talks.
There were reports that the Mason McTavish contract talks got so tense it affected McTavish’s season and eventually led to him being traded. If that’s true, it sets a tone. Players see that. Agents definitely see that. And it wouldn’t be surprising if both Carlsson and Mintyukov used outside offers as a way to force a resolution they couldn’t get from Anaheim directly.
The funny thing about offer sheets is they’re almost never used. They cost the bidding team draft picks and cap space, and they rarely succeed. But they’re not just about stealing a player. They’re a negotiating tool. A player who feels stuck can point to an offer sheet and say, “This is what someone else thinks I’m worth. Match it or let me go.”
Carlsson proved that works. Mintyukov is trying to do the same.
What makes this one different
Mintyukov hasn’t done as much at the NHL level as Carlsson has. That matters. His offer sheet will almost certainly be cheaper, which makes it easier for Anaheim to match. And matching might be the smart play anyway, given how thin their blue line is right now.
One thing working in the Ducks’ favor: Cutter Gauthier isn’t eligible for an offer sheet. So they won’t be dealing with a third one. But two in the same week is already a lot for a front office that’s trying to build something while not getting pushed around by its own young players.
Verbeek has a decision to make, and he has to make it fast. The clock is running. And the way he handles this one might tell us a lot about how the Ducks plan to operate going forward.
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