Anaheim Ducks Summary

The Anaheim Ducks have re-signed defenseman Pavel Mintyukov to a five-year contract extension valued at $36 million, which averages $7.2 million per season. This deal was announced amid speculation that Mintyukov, a 22-year-old restricted free agent, might receive an offer sheet from another NHL team.

Mintyukov recorded 22 points in 73 games during the 2025-26 season, contributing to a total of 69 points since being drafted 10th overall in 2022, as reported by ESPN and Deadspin. Meanwhile, the Ducks are facing a significant challenge as the Philadelphia Flyers have tendered a massive offer sheet for star center Leo Carlsson, which carries a cap hit of $18 million over five years.

This puts the Ducks in a difficult position regarding their salary cap, especially after the Mintyukov signing. Should they match the offer for Carlsson, they would only have about $10 million left in cap space, which could complicate their ability to re-sign other key players like Cutter Gauthier, who scored 41 goals last season.

According to The Hockey News, this situation highlights the financial challenges that general manager Pat Verbeek is navigating, as he must weigh the importance of retaining Carlsson against the need to maintain roster stability.

Fortunately for the Ducks, they have avoided losing any additional players to offer sheets, securing their roster stability as noted by Colorado Hockey Now and Blackhawk Up.