- The Ducks signed Cutter Gauthier to a six-year contract running through 2031-32
- Elliotte Friedman reported a $13.5 million cap hit, a month after Gauthier rejected four years at $13 million
- Read below for Pat Verbeek’s statement and the numbers that got Gauthier paid
Cutter Gauthier turned down Anaheim’s money in August. Waiting it out got him more.
The Ducks announced Tuesday night that they signed the 22-year-old winger to a six-year contract through the 2031-32 season. Elliotte Friedman reported the deal carries a $13.5 million cap hit, which puts the total at $81 million.
Friedman had the number about a minute after the team confirmed the term:
A month ago that same $13 million figure was the sticking point. Gauthier and agent Kurt Overhardt rejected a four-year offer at $13 million per season, per Paul Shaheen, with Anaheim carrying just over $9 million in cap space at the time.
Here’s where the standoff sat in the middle of August:
Two extra years and another $500K per season later, it’s signed. General manager Pat Verbeek put out a statement on the deal in the team’s release.
“We are pleased to get Cutter signed to a long-term deal and have him in camp on time. He’s a major part of our young core, a pure goal-scoring talent that will continue progressing into an elite NHL player.”
Anaheim had to clear room to get here. The club mutually terminated Chris Kreider’s contract last week, and before that it matched Philadelphia’s five-year, $18 million offer sheet on Leo Carlsson.
Last season is what got him paid. Gauthier scored 41 goals and 69 points in 76 games, led the Ducks in scoring and finished 11th in the NHL in goals.
He became the fourth player in franchise history to reach 40, joining Teemu Selanne, Paul Kariya and Corey Perry. Check out the one that got him there:
Then came the playoffs. Four goals and seven points in six games against Edmonton pushed Anaheim to its first series win in nine years.
Vegas ended the run in the second round, with Gauthier at 12 points in 12 games.
Gauthier talked about the deal in the same release.
“This is a very exciting day for my family and me. I’m so pleased to be able to sign long term with the Ducks and be part of what I believe is a great future.”
Camps open this week. Anaheim gets its two highest-paid forwards on the ice for day one instead of watching a holdout drag into October.
