Ducks Struggle to Pay Gauthier | Sports News

The Anaheim Ducks are caught in a financial tightrope as they weigh whether to trade veteran winger Chris Kreider or risk overpaying for young star Cutter Gauthier — with the looming cap jump and a surprise offer sheet for Leo Carlson throwing their summer plans into chaos. Kreider, seeking a top-tier winger payday of $17-18M, may be too expensive to retain, while Gauthier’s market value sits at $13-15M — money the Ducks simply don’t have. The smart move? Trade underperforming Frank Vatrano to free up space, then negotiate a discounted deal with Gauthier by selling him on being part of a team on the cusp of something special — a risky but necessary gamble to keep the core intact. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/5d61d345b5220fbd