Cutter Gauthier could arrive late to Joel Quenneville's first camp in Anaheim as his contract dispute threatens to become a holdout.
Steve Peters predicted Gauthier will not be on the ice when Ducks training camp opens, turning an unresolved RFA negotiation into a looming roster problem.
Peters went even further, suggesting Gauthier's only path onto the ice for opening day of camp could be wearing another team's jersey. That's a prediction, not a reported trade request.
“No, he's not on the ice. This will be the first training camp holdout we've seen in a while. I think he's digging his heels in.”
- Steve Peters
The dispute comes after Gauthier scored 41 goals and reportedly rejected an extension carrying a $13,000,000 annual value.
Anaheim's leverage changed when it matched Philadelphia's offer sheet for Leo Carlsson at an $18,000,000 cap hit. That contract gave Gauthier's camp a massive internal comparison.
Reported expectations around Gauthier have ranged as high as Carlsson's number, leaving Pat Verbeek with a difficult task before players report in September.
Peters believes Anaheim needs to stay firm rather than let Carlsson's contract automatically establish Gauthier's price. That could mean accepting a camp absence rather than forcing a deal.
“Anaheim is backed up against the wall, and I think they need to be firm. The only way he's at training camp on opening day is if he's on a different team.”
- Steve Peters
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Cutter Gauthier's Ducks future raises questions as analyst predicts training camp absence
A holdout would immediately change Quenneville's preparation. His top six would begin camp without the winger who just delivered the biggest scoring season of his young career.
It could also increase outside interest. Rival clubs would know Anaheim faces a contract problem, but they would still have to satisfy Verbeek and then meet Gauthier's expectations.
That makes a trade far more complicated than simply identifying teams that want a 41-goal scorer. The acquiring club would need enough cap flexibility to make the entire transaction work.
Anaheim also has little incentive to move Gauthier cheaply. At 22, he is exactly the type of scorer the Ducks should want beside Carlsson as their young core grows.
But an empty stall when camp opens would raise the pressure immediately. Every missed practice would turn the contract negotiation into a bigger story around Quenneville's roster.
There is still time for Verbeek and Gauthier's camp to bridge the gap. Training camp remains weeks away, and no trade has been reported as imminent.
For now, Peters has put the worst-case scenario directly on the table: Gauthier absent from Ducks camp unless Anaheim finds a contract solution - or a different team.
Source : Ominous Prediction For Cutter Gauthier Come Training Camp: NHL Analyst
Should Anaheim trade Cutter Gauthier rather than meet his reported price?
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