Anaheim Ducks Cutter Gauthier contract talks

In late July 2026 the Anaheim Ducks began negotiations with 21‑year‑old forward Cutter Gauthier, a restricted free agent who had posted 41 goals and 69 points in the 2025‑26 season. NHL insider Anthony Di Marco projected the deal could be worth about $16‑$17 million per season, noting the club would need to adjust its salary‑cap picture after recent multi‑year extensions for teammates Leo Carlsson and Connor Bedard.

A week later analysts evaluated Gauthier among the Pacific Division’s top left‑wingers and suggested his eventual contract might be a multi‑year agreement in the $12‑$13 million range, possibly shorter in length to help manage the rising cap. The discussion also referenced veteran players such as Alex Killorn and Chris Kreider as potential trade pieces to free space for Gauthier’s signing.

Overall, the snapshots trace the early stage of Gauthier’s contract negotiations, moving from an initial high‑value estimate to a more tempered projection that balances the Ducks’ cap constraints with the player’s market value.