Cutter Gauthier enters Joel Quenneville's next Ducks season with his future suddenly becoming one of Anaheim's biggest stories.
The 22-year-old winger has already forced his way into a major place in the organization's long-term plans after a breakout season.
Gauthier finished 2025-26 with 41 goals and 69 points in 76 games, production that changed the conversation around his next contract.
He then added 12 points in 12 playoff games, giving Anaheim another reason to think beyond a short-term bridge deal.
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Now the real development has surfaced: Elliotte Friedman says he has heard there has been progress in extension talks, with the eventual contract expected to carry a “really, really big number.”
That wording matters because Gauthier is coming off the final season of his entry-level contract, which carried a $950,000 cap hit.
Friedman didn't attach an exact figure or term to the negotiations, but his update points toward Anaheim and Gauthier moving closer rather than sitting in a stalemate.
Anaheim faces a franchise-level decision
For general manager Pat Verbeek, this is no longer a routine young-player negotiation. Gauthier has already produced 61 goals over 159 regular-season NHL games.
That scoring pace gives his camp considerable leverage, especially after a season in which he established himself as one of Anaheim's primary finishing threats.
The Ducks also have to weigh what Gauthier could become under Quenneville. Locking him up through his prime would give the coaching staff one less major contract question around the top six.
There's risk attached to any massive commitment this early. But waiting can also raise the price if Gauthier pushes his production another level next season.
Anaheim already knows exactly how hard premium young scorers are to find. Gauthier's 11 power-play goals last season only strengthened his value as a player who can finish from multiple areas of the offensive zone.
Friedman's update doesn't mean a contract is signed. It does mean the file has moved, and the expectation surrounding the final price has clearly moved with it.
For the Ducks, the next step could define a major piece of their cap structure for years.
Should the Anaheim Ducks give Cutter Gauthier a massive long-term extension?
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