Ducks agree to terms with Mintyukov — The Fourth Period
The Anaheim Ducks have agreed to terms on a new five-year, $36 million contract with restricted free agent defenceman Pavel Mintyukov that will see him earn $7.2 million per season.
Mintyukov, 22, played in 73 games with the Ducks last season and registered eight goals and 14 assists for 22 points, along with 17 penalty minutes.
Drafted 10th overall by the Ducks in 2022, the Moscow native had attracted interest from multiple teams, who had explored the possibility of tendering him an offer sheet, but ultimately Mintyukov wanted to stay in Anaheim.
The Ducks currently have just over $35.17 million in salary cap space but must allocate $18 million of that to centre Leo Carlsson if the team matches the five-year, $90 million offer sheet he signed with the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday.
If they do, and taking into account Mintyukov’s new contract, the Ducks have less than $10 million remaining in available salary cap space with RFA sniper Cutter Gauthier still to sign.
Ducks GM Pat Verbeek is exploring all of his options, including trading a roster player or to in order to free up additional salary cap space. Teams can exceed the salary cap by 10 percent during the off-season.
Speculation has already started to surround Ducks forward Frank Vatrano, who was added to TFP’s recently updated Summer Trade Watch list.
