​The Anaheim Ducks‘ contract talks with Cutter Gauthier appear headed for a difficult negotiation after Leo Carlsson reset the franchise’s salary structure.NHL analyst Keith Yandle believes Gauthier has no intention of accepting a deal below Carlsson’s record-setting contract.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSpeaking on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast, Yandle shared what he has been hearing. “I was fed a little tidbit that Cutter Gauthier will not be taking one dollar less than what Leo Carlsson took,” he said.MORE: Elliotte Friedman isn’t buying talk of Tampa Bay Lightning’s declineRyan Whitney suggested the standoff could last well into the season. “I told you the line I heard: ‘See you boys in January,’ as he left. I wasn’t kidding,” Whitney said. “I didn’t know if the person was, you know, based on what you’re hearing and Cutter Gauthier at this point.”Whitney later said, “Carlsson didn’t take a deal, and I don’t think he should get 18, but actually he [Gauthier] did have over 40 [goals]. So maybe he should. But at least now he’s like, ‘Give me 16 and a half.’”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAnaheim matched the Philadelphia Flyers’ five-year, $90 million offer sheet for Carlsson earlier this summer. The contract carries an $18 million average annual value, making the 21-year-old the NHL’s highest-paid player AAV-wise.Gauthier enters negotiations after scoring 41 goals and 69 points in 76 games during his breakout 2025-26 campaign. Carlsson recorded 67 points in 70 games while adding 11 points in 12 playoff games. Both young stars played major roles in ending Anaheim’s seven-year playoff drought.The challenge for general manager Pat Verbeek extends beyond contract value. After matching Carlsson’s deal, the Ducks have just over $9 million in available cap space. That likely forces additional roster moves if Gauthier lands the massive extension his camp reportedly seeks.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMORE: Darren Pang backs Maple Leafs’ Sergei Bobrovsky move with bold predictionYandle joked that Philadelphia should submit an offer sheet. Whitney quickly shut down the idea. “He can’t get offer sheeted,” Whitney said. “Until next summer.”Gauthier’s camp has understandable leverage after a 41-goal season. However, Carlsson’s deal resulted from a rare offer-sheet battle rather than a standard negotiation. Anaheim must now balance rewarding another cornerstone player without allowing one extraordinary contract to dictate every future extension.