Cutter Gauthier has put Joel Quenneville's Ducks in a tight spot, with Anaheim needing room to get its young scoring star signed.
The issue belongs on Pat Verbeek's desk. Gauthier remains unsigned, and the expectation around the league is that his next contract will carry a massive price tag.
Anaheim's cap picture became far more difficult after matching Philadelphia's offer sheet to Leo Carlsson, a 5-year contract carrying an $18 million cap hit.
Now Gauthier is waiting for his own deal after a season in which he scored 41 goals and finished with 69 points, topping Carlsson in both categories.
That production gives Gauthier's camp plenty of leverage. It also leaves Verbeek with a problem that can't simply be solved by moving numbers around on a spreadsheet.
Elliotte Friedman reported that Anaheim will likely need to create cap room before completing the contract, meaning somebody currently on the roster could be heading elsewhere.
"With Gauthier I have heard rumors of some progress but it's gonna be a big number," revealed Friedman on the NHL Network. "It's gonna be a really, really big number. I think one of the things we will be watching over the next couple of weeks is what Anaheim tries to do to create some cap room. They are gonna have to do some roster surgery to get this done."
Pat Verbeek may have to move a veteran
Chris Kreider and Alex Killorn are both entering the final year of their contracts, while Mikael Granlund has one additional season remaining. Those situations naturally make veteran money worth watching.
The problem for Verbeek is leverage. Other general managers know Anaheim needs space, and they aren't going to do the Ducks any favors simply because Gauthier needs a new contract.
So, yes, Gauthier could effectively force another trade without actually being the player who changes teams.
And if that sounds familiar, Flyers fans are probably already smiling. Gauthier's unwillingness to sign in Philadelphia led to his rights being dealt to Anaheim in January 2024 for Jamie Drysdale and a 2025 second-round pick.
Apparently one forced trade wasn't enough. This time, Gauthier could make somebody else pack the suitcase.
That's a much better problem for Anaheim than losing Gauthier himself, but the pressure is real. Verbeek wanted a young core capable of taking the next step, and keeping Gauthier is clearly part of that plan.
The question is which player becomes the price of making it happen before the season starts.
Will Cutter Gauthier's contract force Pat Verbeek to trade a veteran?
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