Overview
- Multiple insiders reported on Monday that the Anaheim Ducks and Cutter Gauthier have made substantive progress in extension talks and that the club is motivated to complete a deal.
- A major reason for the rush is a CBA change taking effect Sept. 16 that will cap how much of a contract can be paid in signing bonuses at 60 percent, which reduces the upfront cash value teams can offer after that date.
- Anaheim has already cleared cap space this offseason, including terminating Chris Kreider’s contract to free roughly $15.5 million, a move the club made to afford a large RFA payout to Gauthier.
- Market talk and analysts suggest several possible structures if a deal is struck, including speculative benchmarks such as a five-year, $75 million contract or a six-year deal in the $13–14 million AAV range, but no terms have been confirmed.
- If Gauthier remains unsigned past the Dec. 1 eligibility cutoff he could be barred from playing in the 2026–27 season and playoffs, a deadline that raises real roster and career consequences and could force a resolution or restraint on both sides.