Ducks Sign Cutter Gauthier to Six-Year, $81 Million Extension

The Anaheim Ducks signed forward Cutter Gauthier to a six-year, $81 million contract extension on Tuesday, securing the leading goal scorer from their breakout 2025-26 season. The deal carries an average annual value of $13.5 million and will keep Gauthier with the organization through the 2031-32 season. The agreement comes after a busy offseason for the Ducks, who previously matched a five-year, $90 million offer sheet to retain center Leo Carlsson. With Gauthier signed, the team now has just over $2 million in salary cap space for the 2026-27 season. His $13.5 million cap hit is tied with Jack Eichel for the fifth-highest among all NHL players. "We are pleased to get Cutter signed to a long-term deal and have him in camp on time," Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said in a statement. "He's a major part of our young core, a pure goal-scoring talent that will continue progressing into an elite NHL player." Gauthier, 22, enjoyed a breakout campaign last season, scoring a team-high 41 goals and 69 points in 76 games. He became only the fourth player in Ducks history to reach 40 goals in a single season, joining Teemu Selanne, Paul Kariya, and Corey Perry.