Whoa, the Anaheim Ducks just went all in, big time. They locked down restricted free agent Cutter Gauthier on a massive six-year contract, worth a staggering $81 million! The team made it official on Tuesday, and man, that’s a statement move! A huge chunk of that, about $69.5 million, is coming in signing bonuses, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. That’s a serious commitment right there.
The Mega-Deal for Gauthier
So yeah, $81 million for Gauthier over six years. That’s a ton of cash, and it tells you everything you need to know about how the Ducks feel about this guy. They’re not messing around, dropping major money to keep their core talent locked up long-term. With nearly $70 million in signing bonuses, they are making it crystal clear they want Gauthier in Anaheim for the foreseeable future. This is a massive bet on his potential.
Carlsson’s Record and the Cap Squeeze
But here’s where it gets wild: this Gauthier deal isn’t even their first blockbuster move this season. Back in July, the Ducks matched a five-year offer sheet for Leo Carlsson, shelling out an eye-watering $90 million to keep him. Carlsson’s average annual value on that deal, $18 million, actually set a new NHL record. Think about that: two monster contracts for young stars, one of them an NHL record-breaker! Now, with Gauthier’s contract finalized, the Ducks are sitting with just over $2 million in 2026-27 cap space, according to PuckPedia. Two million bucks, that’s it!
Talk about a team not afraid to open the checkbook, right? They’ve put their money where their mouth is to keep their young guns. But with almost no cap room left, you gotta wonder what their next moves even look like. They’re betting huge on these guys, and the rest of the league is definitely watching to see if it pays off.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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