The Anaheim Ducks finally got their sniper locked up.
Forward Cutter Gauthier has agreed to a six-year, $81-million deal ($13.5 million AAV) that will keep him under contract until the conclusion of the 2031-32 season, the team announced Tuesday.
With Gauthier signed, the Ducks will now enter the season with just over $2.07 million in cap space, according to PuckPedia.
According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, about $69.5 million of the total $81-million deal is in signing bonuses, with Tuesday being the final day before contract structures change based on the implementations on Sept. 16 with the collective bargaining agreement.
"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."
The 22-year-old is entering his third NHL season and is coming off a career year with a team-leading 41 goals and 69 points in 76 games. He became the fourth player in Ducks history to reach 40 goals in a single season, joining Teemu Selanne, Paul Kariya and Corey Perry.
"This is a very exciting day for my family and me," Gauthier added in the release."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."
In his rookie season with the Ducks back in 2024-25, Gauthier reached the 20-goal mark and put up 44 points in 82 games, finishing fifth in Calder Trophy voting.
Born in Skelleftea, Sweden and a native of Scottsdale, Ariz., Gauthier was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers with the No. 5 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft and traded to the Ducks on Jan. 8, 2024, in exchange for defenseman Jamie Drysdale and a second-round pick in 2025.
This news comes after a busy off-season for Verbeek and the Ducks, who matched a $90-million offer sheet for Leo Carlsson from the Flyers and terminated Chris Kreider's contract to create cap flexibility.