Ducks Sign Tristan Luneau to $43 Million Contract After 14 NHL Games

The Anaheim Ducks have signed defenseman Tristan Luneau to a six-year contract worth an average of $7.2 million per year, making it the largest contract ever awarded to a player with only 14 games of NHL experience. General Manager Pat Verbeek stated, "Signing Tristan to a long-term contract was a priority as we see him as a top-four defenseman for years to come. Getting the deal done before the season started was a key part of our planning for now and the future." Luneau, a 22-year-old who was a second-round pick in 2022, has recorded two goals and four points in his brief NHL career. In the AHL, he has played over 135 games for the San Diego Gulls, scoring 19 goals and accumulating 95 points while managing injuries. He is expected to start the season on the Ducks' top pairing with Jackson LaCombe. The Ducks, who ended a seven-year playoff drought last season, have a history of signing young talent to significant contracts. LaCombe previously received an eight-year, $72 million extension, which was the largest contract in franchise history at the time. This was later surpassed by Leo Carlsson's five-year, $90 million deal, which will be the largest in the league at an average annual value of $18 million once it begins. Additionally, Cutter Gauthier is set to start the first season of a six-year, $81 million contract when the Ducks begin their season on Friday in Vegas.