Ducks sign F Cutter Gauthier to 6-year contract

Five days before their preseason opener, the Anaheim Ducks signed their leading goal-scorer and point-scorer from last season, forward Cutter Gauthier, to a six-year deal on Tuesday.

While the club didn't announce the financial terms, the 22-year-old restricted free agent landed a deal that will average $13.5 million annually, according to ESPN and The Athletic. ESPN reported that he will have an $850,000 salary in the first year of the deal but that he also landed an $18.6 million signing bonus.

The average annual value of Gauthier's pact ranks second on the team behind the $18 million of center Leo Carlsson, per The Athletic.

Gauthier had completed his three-year entry-level contract.

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

Gauthier added in a statement, "This is a very exciting day for my family and me. 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."

Last season, Gauthier scored 41 goals and handed out 28 assists, both career highs. In 12 postseason games, he added four goals and eight assists as the Ducks eliminated the Edmonton Oilers in six games before losing to the Vegas Golden Knights in six games.

After logging an assist in his lone NHL game in 2023-24, Gauthier appeared in all 82 games the following campaign, notching 20 goals and 24 assists.

Anaheim acquired Gauthier in a January 2024 trade that sent defenseman Jamie Drysdale and a second-round draft pick to Philadelphia. The Flyers had selected Gauthier, a native of Sweden who grew up in Arizona, with the fifth overall pick in the 2022 draft.