​The Leo Carlsson contract has the potential to change life in the NHL moving forward, but particularly in Anaheim. Potentially, it could even be the blueprint for Cutter Gauthier’s next deal.Former NHL defenseman Keith Yandle believes life is about to become more difficult for general manager Pat Verbeek. On Monday’s edition of the “Spittin’ Chiclets” podcast, the former NHL iron man suggested that the Ducks star winger has his sights set on Leo Carlsson money.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“I was fed a little tidbit that Cutter Gauthier will not be taking one dollar less than what Leo Carlsson [received],” Yandle said on Monday’s episode.Probably not, no. It’s hard to imagine that any team would be willing to hand out $18 million to Gauthier. While he is a former center, he’s primarily found his success as a goal-scorer on the wing in Anaheim.Still, he’s a former top-five selection, only 22 and already has a 40-goal campaign under his belt. In a league where scoring is extremely difficult, Gauthier already ranks among the best offensive players. There’s plenty of runway for him to continue improving, which could make him a 50-goal scorer down the road.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementEventually, this will change, but no team has won the Stanley Cup in the salary cap era with a skater earning more than $10 million annually. Anaheim would have two players making nearly double the threshold of the highest-paid Cup-winning skaters of this era. Already, that’s an enormous concern.In the short-term, if Anaheim agreed to that contract with Gauthier, the Ducks would have nearly 35 percent of their salary cap tied up in two players. The cap is rising quickly, and it is projected to be $123 million by 2028-29. That’s still a lot tied up in two players. Secondly, it doesn’t provide the Ducks any margin for error internally or externally.Internally, they’d have to make sure their evaluations and contracts are airtight. The Ducks couldn’t afford any wasted cap space. Externally, they’d have to hope that no major global event could harm the league’s projected growth. COVID-19 interrupted two league years, resulting in a multi-year flat cap that limited salary growth. That harmed teams who had recently signed large contracts. Teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs had even less flexibility than anticipated.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Anaheim Ducks have a little more than $9 million in salary cap space with a projected roster of 13 forwards, seven defenseman and three goalies. To fit Gauthier, someone would have to go down to the AHL. As a result, the Ducks could add anywhere from $812,500 to $1.1 million to that cap space number. That still doesn’t get them close to signing Gauthier.Anaheim would have to move at least two contracts to create enough space to sign Gauthier in Yandle’s scenario. That could mean trading at least one of the forwards Mikael Granlund ($7 million), Chris Kreider ($6.5