The Anaheim Ducks may be heading toward a financial squeeze, and Cutter Gauthier is right at the center of it.
Anthony Di Marco of the Daily Faceoff said on TSN Radio in Montreal that Gauthier’s next deal in Anaheim could land in a massive range, with the winger expected to push for a number that sits well above the Ducks’ current comfort zone. Di Marco pointed to Kurt Overhardt as a difficult negotiator and said he had heard Gauthier would not accept less than Leo Carlsson.
“I mean, I think that he’s going to come in somewhere between Bedard and Leo Carlsson.
Maybe not get exactly $18 million, but that offer sheet, man, they kept Leo Carlsson. But that was a grenade chucked into Pat Verbeek ‘s office by Danny Briere, and there’s going to be a trickle-down effect for probably the next 24 months or so.
And you have Cutter Gauthier now, and then two years’ time you have Beckett Sennecke to deal with. So I mean, I think they get it done. I think it probably comes around $16-$17 million dollars per season between Bedar and Carlsson, but it is not going to be an easy season, in a little bit probably for Pat Verbeek to make all the puzzles fit financially for the Anaheim Ducks.”
That kind of number would force Anaheim into some uncomfortable decisions. When asked who might have to move, Di Marco said the Ducks could be looking at veterans such as Chris Kreider, Alex Killorn, or Frank Vatrano. He also noted that Anaheim has three second-round picks in next year’s 2027 NHL Draft to use as currency if needed.
The cap pressure isn’t the only concern. Di Marco said the Ducks’ blue line could look dramatically different and that the team is a strong candidate to take a step back next season. He mentioned Olen Zellweger, Radko Gudas, Jacob Trouba, John Carlson, and Nick Jensen as part of that picture, while also saying Pavel Mintyukov needs to take a step forward on the left side.
Jackson LaCombe, he said, remains one of the better young defensemen in the NHL. Still, Di Marco argued Anaheim’s defense had plenty of highs and lows last season and was helped out by Lukas Dostal.
“If I’m a betting man right now, guys, the only way that Anaheim gets back in the playoffs is because the Pacific Division is just that bad. But that is a massive regression candidate for my money for next season.”
In Other News...
Ducks Prospect Coulson Pitre Is Reaching A Critical Crossroads
Coulson Pitres second pro season was always going to be about finding traction, but the path never really settled for the Ducks prospect. Injuries slowed his start, and his year became a grind between Tulsa in the ECHL and San Diego in the AHL, with the kind of lower-line usage that leaves little room to build momentum. For a player drafted in 2023 and still trying to prove he can translate his game to the next level, that sort of stop-and-start season can be just as revealing as a big scoring stretch.
The next step matters even more now because Pitre has one year left on his entry-level deal and is expected to spend next season in the minors again. That puts the focus squarely on opportunity as much as performance, since he needs more consistent ice time and a stronger foothold in San Diego to keep his development on track. The Ducks have also added more competition around the Gulls roster, which only raises the pressure on Pitre to make his case quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Ducks Keep Trusted Gulls Leader In Place As Pipeline Gains Momentum
The Ducks have locked in one of their most experienced behind-the-scenes voices, agreeing to a multi-year extension with San Diego Gulls general manager Rick Paterson. Paterson is entering his third season running Anaheims AHL affiliate and his 22nd year in the organization, a long run that speaks to the trust he has earned in a job that matters more and more when a franchise is trying to build from within.
Paterson brings more than four decades in hockey as a player, coach and scout, along with a resume that includes four Stanley Cups. His work in San Diego has helped steady the development side of the operation, and the Gulls have taken a step forward under his watch, improving year over year and getting back to the postseason for the first time since 2021-22. For Anaheim, keeping that pipeline leadership in place is as much about continuity as it is about keeping the next wave moving in the right direction. [Read more 🡒]