Ducks RFA Talks Draw Early Offseason Attention
League buzz is picking up around Anaheim's young core after free agency settled a bit. Early indications point to some tricky negotiations still on the table for the Ducks as they sort out restricted free agents.
What's known for sure is that the Ducks matched a massive offer sheet for center Leo Carlsson, locking him in at a league-high average annual value of $18 million over five years. That deal set a new bar for young talent coming off strong performances.
Reports have surfaced suggesting winger Cutter Gauthier is eyeing similar money and won't settle for much less as his own contract talks heat up. One circulating tip claimed he is pushing hard to match that AAV level. At the same time, other voices have pushed back, saying there's no confirmed demand of that size yet and things remain fluid.
Speculation is running that Gauthier's camp will use the Carlsson number as a starting point and could land north of $10 million annually, especially with other big winger deals floating around. The Ducks already absorbed that huge cap hit and may need to clear salary space—possibly by moving pieces and even attaching a pick—to make room without gutting the roster. Some chatter suggests they are open to creative solutions to keep the rising group together.
Nothing is locked in, and talks could stretch into camp if numbers don't line up. For now it's early-stage noise rather than imminent movement, but the stakes are clear: locking down that young talent or risking a long summer of roster tweaks. Keep an eye on how Anaheim navigates the remaining RFAs as the calendar flips toward training camp.
- 🔥 Cap flexibility looks tight after the big match
- 👀 Other teams watching for potential fallout deals
- ⏳ Negotiations still in early phases with room to develop