The Hockey News Anaheim Ducks Show (01-17-25) On Friday, the NHL and the NHLPA announced an agreement for the upper and lower salary cap limits for the next three NHL seasons. Ducks Prospect Dionicio Loaned to Swiss League [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/latest-news/ducks-prospect-dionicio-loaned-to-swiss-league] The current CBA is set to expire following the 2025-26 season, so the ranges for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons are subject to "potential minor adjustments." The Anaheim Ducks remain firmly in their rebuild and haven't sniffed the salary cap ceiling for over a half-decade. They have very little long-term money committed to their books, with only five players signed beyond the 2025-26 season. As it stands today, the Ducks are set to head into the 2025 offseason with nearly $56 million committed to 14 skaters (nine forwards and five defensemen), John Gibson, and $2.5 million retained on Cam Fowler's contract. They will have to spend slightly over $14 million to hit the salary cap floor and will be $39.4 million under the ceiling. Lukas Dostal, Drew Helleson, Mason McTavish, and Isac Lundestrom are the only pending RFAs in need of new contracts before the 2025-26 season. The staggering cap space will cause many to look toward the top of the free agent market which, as of now, features names like Mitch Marner, Mikko Rantanen, and Nikolaj Ehlers, in hopes the Ducks will be able to entice one of the marquee names to put pen to paper come July 1. The Ducks notably offered Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault, the biggest names on the 2024 free agent market, more money and term than they ended up signing for in Nashville, leaving the Ducks empty-handed. Several teams will be looking to take advantage of the unforeseen extra cap space heading into the offseason, which could again leave the Ducks on the outside looking in when it comes to reeling in a big fish. They're already going to be fighting an uphill battle after a likely seventh season of missing the playoffs and selecting in the top ten of the NHL Draft. On July 1, Trevor Zegras, Cutter Gauthier, Leo Carlsson, Pavel Mintyukov, and Olen Zellweger will be eligible to sign contract extensions that would kick in at the start of the 2026-27 season. The Ducks will likely have an easier time hitting the cap floor with the potential of significant money hitting their books after next season. However, Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek has yet to sign a pending RFA before or during the season in which their contract expires, so it will be worth monitoring how those situations unfold. The Ducks have had one of the better cap outlooks in the NHL over the past few seasons, but have been unable to utilize or weaponize it in any meaningful way. Concern Level over Lack of Production from the Ducks' Young Core [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/latest-news/concern-level-over-lack-of-production-from-the-ducks-young-core] Trevor Zegras Recapturing Flare Since Return from Injury [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/latest-news/trevor-zegras-recapturing-flare-since-return-from-injury]
