Daily News 19

Tag: Pat Verbeek

  • Anaheim Ducks Sign Cutter Gauthier to Six-Year, $81M Deal

    Anaheim Ducks Sign Cutter Gauthier to Six-Year, $81M Deal

    Cutter Gauthier has agreed to a six-year contract with the Anaheim Ducks, the team announced Tuesday. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the deal carries a $13.5 million average annual value (AAV) for a total of $81 million.

    Contract Structure and Timing

    Friedman reports that $69.5 million of the contract will be paid in signing bonuses. This structure is significant because the rules governing how bonuses can be distributed change on Wednesday when the new collective bargaining agreement takes effect.

    Breakout Season and Playoff Performance

    The 22-year-old forward exploded for 41 goals and 69 points last season as a sophomore, helping Anaheim return to the playoffs for the first time in eight years. He added 12 points in 12 playoff games as the Ducks advanced to the second round.

    Management Reaction

    “We are pleased to get Cutter signed to a long-term deal and have him in camp on time,” general manager Pat Verbeek said in a statement released by the team. “He’s a major part of our young core, a pure goal-scoring talent that will continue progressing into an elite NHL player.”

    Career Trajectory

    In his rookie season in 2024-25, Gauthier eclipsed the 20-goal mark and recorded 44 points in 82 games, finishing fifth in Calder Trophy voting. Across 159 career games, Gauthier has accumulated 61 goals and 114 points.

    Player Perspective

    “This is a very exciting day for my family and I,” added Gauthier. “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.”

    Offseason Context

    Earlier in the offseason, the Ducks signed Leo Carlsson to a five-year, $90-million contract after he signed an offer sheet for that amount from the Philadelphia Flyers, forcing Anaheim to match. Gauthier was originally drafted by the Flyers fifth overall in 2022 but was traded to the Ducks before making his NHL debut.

  • Ducks and Kreider Expected to Agree to Waivers for Contract Termination

    Ducks and Kreider Expected to Agree to Waivers for Contract Termination

    Ducks to Place Chris Kreider on Waivers for Contract Termination Amid Salary-Cap Crunch

    The Anaheim Ducks are expected to place veteran forward Chris Kreider on unconditional waivers for the purpose of contract termination, a move designed to alleviate the team’s sudden salary-cap constraints. The decision comes with Kreider’s approval, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation.

    Kreider Seeks Return to East Coast

    Once he clears waivers, Kreider will become an unrestricted free agent. Sources indicate the 33-year-old winger prefers to return to the Eastern Conference, closer to family and the region where he spent the first 13 seasons of his NHL career with the New York Rangers. He has reportedly informed teams that he will not report if claimed by a club he does not wish to join.

    Contract Details and Market Interest

    Kreider has one season remaining on his current deal, which carries a $6.5 million salary-cap hit. However, only $4 million in actual cash remains due after a signing bonus was paid on July 1. That reduced financial commitment is expected to generate interest from contending teams seeking secondary scoring and playoff experience.

    Cap Pressure Forces Ducks’ Hand

    General Manager Pat Verbeek’s cap flexibility evaporated rapidly this offseason. The Ducks were forced to match an $18 million offer sheet for restricted free agent Leo Carlsson, while a looming extension for 41-goal scorer Cutter Gauthier further strained the budget. Verbeek explored trade options but found the market unappealing.

    Sources indicate he “did not like the trade options presented to him, specifically ‘sweeteners’ he might have to include to get it done.”

    Uncommon Path for a Productive Player

    Contract termination via waivers has grown more common over the past year, yet it remains rare for a player coming off a 50-point season — as Kreider did in 2023-24 — to exit via this route. The next 48 hours will determine whether a team claims him or he hits the open market as a free agent.