Cutter Gauthier reportedly turns down massive contract from the Ducks

Cutter Gauthier just said no to a lot of money.

According to insider Paul Shaheen, the Anaheim Ducks put a four year, $13 million a year offer on the table for their restricted free agent winger, and both Gauthier and his agent Kurt Overhardt turned it down flat.

That number would have made him one of the highest paid wingers in hockey, but after watching teammate Leo Carlsson land $18 million a year on an offer sheet the Ducks were forced to match, Gauthier clearly feels his market value sits somewhere closer to that range too.

He is coming off a 41 goal, 69 point season and was a point per game player in the playoffs, so the confidence is not exactly baseless.

Here is where things get tricky for general manager Pat Verbeek.

Per PuckPedia, Anaheim is sitting at just over $9 million in cap space right now.

Even the rejected $13 million offer would have been a stretch to fit.

If Gauthier ultimately lands anywhere near Carlsson territory, the Ducks are going to need to get creative just to be compliant when the season opens.

Options exist. Troy Terry is expected to start the year on LTIR after hip surgery, which could free up close to $4 million.

Sending a depth piece like Laurent Brossoit to the AHL would help too.

But those moves only stretch so far against a nine figure asking price.

Gauthier has no arbitration rights and cannot sign an offer sheet elsewhere until next summer, so his leverage is limited to simply not signing.

With camp approaching fast, this negotiation could easily spill into the season.

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