Ducks appear headed for a trade as Cutter Gauthier talks intensify, per Elliotte Friedman

HOUSE OF HOCKEY | NHL TEAM | ANAHEIM DUCKS PUBLICATION Daniel Lucente September 7, 2026 (3:01 PM) Photo credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Cutter Gauthier is about to get paid, and the Anaheim Ducks might have to sacrifice a veteran to make it happen. Gauthier is coming off a 41-goal, 69-point regular season at just 22 years old, then tacked on 12 more points during Anaheim's playoff run. After already committing big money to Leo Carlsson, general manager Pat Verbeek now faces another franchise-altering negotiation, and this one comes with a real cap problem attached. The numbers make the situation tricky. Anaheim currently sits with roughly $9.07 million in cap space, while Chris Kreider carries a $6.5 million hit that comes off the books once his contract expires after this season. Elliotte Friedman has said the Ducks may need serious roster surgery to fit Gauthier's eventual price tag, and Kreider's name has quickly entered the conversation as a result. "The Ducks may need 'roster surgery.' - Elliotte Friedman Why Kreider fits the trade profile Kreider isn't being shopped outright, but his situation lines up perfectly for a move. He's 35, in the final year of his deal, and coming off a 22-goal, 50-point season that still holds real value for a contender chasing one playoff push. A rebuilding-turned-contending Ducks team may decide his expiring money is easier to part with than tying up future cap space meant for Gauthier. His deal does include an 11-team no-trade list, though that wouldn't rule out plenty of possible destinations. What it means for Anaheim's offseason Moving Kreider alone might not fully solve the puzzle. Even clearing his full cap hit only pushes Anaheim's space to around $15.57 million, and if Gauthier's number climbs much higher, more moves could follow before the season gets going. For now, Gauthier remains the priority, and Verbeek's next steps could define the Ducks' entire year.