Story Summary
With CBA changes due to take effect on September 16, reports indicate the Anaheim Ducks and restricted free agent Cutter Gauthier have made progress towards a new deal, while Adam Fantilli’s talks with the Columbus Blue Jackets showed little movement over the weekend. Elliotte Friedman said Gauthier’s situation had advanced and could be the biggest of the pending extensions, while suggesting a shorter term of around five years rather than eight. An officially reported four-year, $13 million Ducks offer was rejected by Gauthier in August.
Columbus has yet to reach an agreement with Fantilli, with reports suggesting a five-year contract remains the preferred framework. The timing is significant: September 15 is the final day under the existing CBA for eligible players to sign eight-year extensions before the new agreement takes effect on September 16.
Key Facts
- Elliotte Friedman reported on the 32 Thoughts Podcast that there has been ” progress on Gauthier” and that it could be ” the biggest of the three” pending extensions.
- Friedman said he does not expect Cutter Gauthier to sign for eight years and suggested a five-year term is more likely.
- An officially reported four-year, $13 million Ducks offer was rejected by Gauthier in August.
- Anaheim cleared Chris Kreider’s cap hit and terminated his contract, opening cap space the Ducks could use for a Gauthier deal.
- Fraser Minten initially had his first contract rejected before signing a seven-year extension at $7.2 million, an example Friedman cited of pre-deadline paperwork issues.
- Aaron Portzline reported little progress over the weekend between Adam Fantilli and the Columbus Blue Jackets; Mark Scheig also confirmed no deal was completed over the weekend.
- Friedman noted structure and variance could be as important as headline numbers in negotiations and referenced the 60% variance rule as a factor for Gauthier.
- Friedman said Columbus faces a separate timing decision involving Kirill Marchenko: if another team wants to acquire and extend him under current rules, it must happen before Wednesday, and it was unclear whether Columbus wanted to move him.
- Reports suggest Adam Fantilli will look to sign a five-year extension similar to those given to Leo Carlsson, Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini.
- The reported urgency is tied to the CBA change on September 16, with September 15 identified as the final day for eligible players to sign eight-year extensions under the existing rules.
IHM Discussion
The CBA change has compressed negotiations for young restricted free agents into a narrow window. Friedman’s comments that there has been progress on Gauthier, combined with Anaheim’s decision to terminate Chris Kreider’s contract, point to a clear effort to create flexibility before training camp. Gauthier remains unsigned, however, and the only officially reported proposal was the four-year, $13 million offer he rejected in August.
Friedman’s expectation of a shorter agreement rather than an eight-year term underlines the importance of both length and structure in these talks. Anaheim’s priority is straightforward: get Gauthier under contract and into camp without sacrificing more roster flexibility than necessary.
Fantilli’s situation provides the contrast. Reports indicated little progress over the weekend, even as Columbus works towards training camp. A five-year framework has been linked to Fantilli, but no agreement has been announced. Friedman also raised a separate question over Kirill Marchenko’s future, though Columbus’ intentions remain unclear.
Why It Matters
These negotiations matter because they affect roster construction, cap flexibility and training-camp availability. Getting a Gauthier deal done would allow Anaheim to have its young core in camp and finalise opening-night plans; failing to reach terms risks downstream roster and cap disruption. For Columbus, Fantilli remains unsigned at a crucial moment in their off-season calendar; continued delay risks missing the pre-deadline window for certain structural moves and could complicate the club’s roster decisions ahead of training camp.
IHM Market Outlook
The immediate market signal is urgency. Anaheim has created cap flexibility and still needs to resolve Gauthier’s contract, while the rejection of a four-year, $13 million offer shows that the sides have not yet found common ground. Any eventual agreement could be shaped as much by term and structure as by the headline figure.
Fantilli’s unsigned status leaves Columbus with a similarly important decision before camp. Reports have linked him to a five-year deal, but the lack of a completed agreement means the situation remains open.
Mini Q&A
Is there confirmed progress on Cutter Gauthier’s contract?
Reports from Elliotte Friedman say there has been progress on a Gauthier extension and that Anaheim appears motivated to get a deal done; however, no agreement has been publicly filed or announced.
What kind of deal is Gauthier reportedly seeking?
An officially reported four-year, $13 million offer from Anaheim was rejected by Gauthier in August. No new agreement has been announced.
Will Gauthier sign an eight-year extension?
Friedman said he does not think Gauthier will sign for eight years and suggested a five-year term is more likely; nothing is confirmed.
What is the status of Adam Fantilli’s talks with Columbus?
Aaron Portzline and Mark Scheig reported that there was not much progress over the weekend on Fantilli’s extension; Fantilli’s camp is reportedly seeking a five-year deal and the club hoped to sign him before training camp.
What timing pressures are affecting these negotiations?
September 15 is the reported final day for eligible players to sign eight-year extensions under the existing CBA. The new CBA takes effect on September 16, increasing the urgency around any deal that relies on the current rules.
Coach Mark Comment
Having core players in camp matters. A late agreement can reduce the time available to establish line combinations, special-teams responsibilities and daily habits before the season begins, so Anaheim and Columbus will want clarity as soon as possible.
What Comes Next
September 15 is the reported final day for eligible players to sign eight-year extensions under the existing CBA. The new CBA takes effect on September 16. Anaheim and Columbus will continue working towards agreements with Gauthier and Fantilli before training camp.
IHM Final View
Anaheim appears to be moving towards a resolution with Gauthier after creating cap flexibility, but no agreement has been announced. Columbus and Fantilli remain in a slower, more uncertain negotiation. Until contracts are completed, both situations remain matters of reported progress rather than confirmed transactions.