Anaheim Ducks forward Cutter Gauthier signed a six-year, $81 million contract extension on Tuesday, securing his future with the franchise through the 2031-32 season. The deal includes approximately $69.5 million in signing bonuses and carries an annual cap hit of $13.5 million, according to reporting from Sportsnet.
The Anaheim Ducks locked up another key piece of their young roster ahead of the upcoming season, agreeing to terms with restricted free agent Cutter Gauthier on a lucrative long-term extension.
Contract Breakdown and Salary Cap Impact for the Ducks
Gauthier’s new deal runs across six years and totals $81 million, with the vast majority coming through signing bonuses according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, who reported that roughly $69.5 million is structured in bonuses. The contract carries an annual average value of $13.5 million, tying Gauthier with Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel for the fifth-highest cap hit among all NHL players.
Anaheim retains just over $2 million in available 2026-27 salary cap space following the signing, according to data from PuckPedia. This tight cap situation arrives on the heels of another major financial commitment made by the front office during the summer.
In July, the organization matched a five-year offer sheet worth $90 million tendered by the Philadelphia Flyers to retain center Leo Carlsson. That deal carried an $18 million average annual value, setting a new NHL record. General manager Pat Verbeek and the front office also signed defenseman Pavel Mintyukov to a five-year contract on July 5, and forward A.J. Greer, who was acquired in a trade with the Florida Panthers, to a four-year contract on July 1. Then last Thursday, the Ducks terminated the contract of forward Chris Kreider just one day after placing him on unconditional waivers, following Kreider’s previous stint under a seven-year, $45.5 million contract signed with the New York Rangers on Feb. 24, 2020.
Front Office Perspective and Roster Integration
Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported that the two sides experienced steady progress and substantive talks, remaining determined to finalize the agreement before the preseason ramped up.
“We are pleased to get Cutter signed to a long-term deal and have him in camp on time,” Verbeek said as part of Tuesday’s announcement. “He’s a major part of our young core, a pure goal-scoring talent that will continue progressing into an elite NHL player.”
Pat Verbeek, Ducks General Manager
“This is a very exciting day for my family and me,” Gauthier said. “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.”
Cutter Gauthier, Anaheim Ducks Forward
On-Ice Production and Playoff Expectations in Anaheim
Originally selected by the Philadelphia Flyers with the No. 5 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, Gauthier was traded to the Ducks for defenseman Jamie Drysdale and a second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft on Jan. 8, 2024.
After earning All-Rookie Team honors during the 2024-25 campaign by putting up 44 points (20 goals, 24 assists) in 82 games, Gauthier elevated his production during the 2025-26 season, racking up 69 points in 76 games. He also led the team with 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in 12 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
That postseason run marked the franchise’s (43-33-6) first season clinching a playoff berth since 2017-18, ending a multi-year drought for a club entering the new campaign. With Gauthier secured through the end of the decade, the team shifts its focus toward building on last year’s second-round postseason appearance.
Related reading
