Cutter Gauthier signs six-year, $81 million contract with Anaheim Ducks

The Anaheim Ducks locked in left wing Cutter Gauthier to a six-year extension worth $81 million with a $13.5 million average annual value, securing him through the 2031-32 season. The deal was finalized in the final hours before the new NHL collective bargaining agreement took effect at midnight, allowing the Ducks to execute the signing under legacy contract terms now unavailable to future signings. Gauthier, 22, was the most prominent restricted free agent still unsigned with two weeks remaining before the start of the season, per Yahoo's reporting. The extension locks down Anaheim's leading scorer as the franchise eyes sustained playoff contention after a historic offensive contribution last season. Last season, Gauthier tallied 41 goals and 69 points as the Ducks' leading scorer, a pace that helped lead Anaheim to its first playoff appearance since 2018, ending an eight-year postseason drought. The fifth overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft by Philadelphia, Gauthier was acquired by Anaheim via trade in early 2024, sent to the Ducks in exchange for defenseman Jamie Drysdale and a 2025 second-round selection. Ducks General Manager Pat Verbeek said in a statement: "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." Gauthier issued his own statement, saying: "This is a very exciting day for my family and I. 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." The timing reflects a seismic shift in the league's salary structure. The updated agreement also restructures signing bonuses and limits upfront payments, reducing the prevalence of front-loaded contracts that have long shaped player deals. By signing Gauthier before the deadline, Anaheim secured a deal that would be impossible to replicate under the new framework.