The Anaheim Ducks appear to be making progress in contract talks with restricted free agent Cutter Gauthier, TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun reports.
The update comes just under a week after the Ducks cleared $6.5 million by mutually agreeing to terminate Chris Kreider’s contract. That move left the Ducks with more than $15.5 million in cap space to work with in negotiations with Gauthier.
“I want to thank Chris for his efforts last year and recognize the professionalism he and his representatives demonstrated throughout this process,” Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said in a statement released by the team. “Our rationale here is straightforward: We needed to create salary cap flexibility, and this accomplishes that.”
Gauthier led the Anaheim Ducks in scoring last season, registering 41 goals and 69 points in 76 games. He became the third player in franchise history to score 40 or more goals, joining Teemu Selanne and Corey Perry.
The 22-year-old added four goals and 12 points in 12 playoff games before his team was eliminated in the second round.
Gauthier, who headlines the remaining restricted free agents along with Columbus Blue Jackets forward Adam Fantilli and Carolina Hurricanes blueliner Alexander Nikishin, was not eligible for an offer sheet this summer.
The price tag for the rising star has seemingly only gone up since July 1, with the Ducks matching the five-year, $90 million ($18 million AAV) offer sheet tendered by the Philadelphia Flyers to Leo Carlsson in July before Connor Bedard signed a five-year deal at a $15 million cap hit.
Macklin Celebrini also inked a five-year extension this summer at an $18.8 million cap hit before Cale Makar blew past that with his eight-year extension at an $20.4 million cap hit.
