The Anaheim Ducks have officially managed to put out one of the multiple salary cap fires currently threatening to engulf their offseason. On Sunday afternoon, insider Frank Seravalli reported that the club has signed restricted free-agent defenseman Pavel Mintyukov to a five-year contract extension.
The deal carries an average annual value (AAV) of $7.2 million, totaling $36 million through the 2030-31 NHL season.
Mintyukov’s new deal in Anaheim: 5 years x $7.2 million AAV.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) July 5, 2026
$3 million signing bonus in Year 1. https://t.co/yaznQ12TCY
Mintyukov was an RFA after the conclusion of his three-year, entry-level contract with a $918,333 cap hit.
The Ducks are currently staring down the barrel of the Philadelphia Flyers' historic, record-breaking $18 million AAV offer sheet tendered to franchise center Leo Carlsson. With Mintyukov’s $7.2 million cap hit now officially on the books, Anaheim is left with less than $10 million in available salary cap space.
During the 2025-26 campaign, Mintyukov produced eight goals and 14 assists for 22 points in 73 games.
If Verbeek intends to match Philadelphia's unprecedented offer to Carlsson, the Ducks will be forced to execute emergency salary-clearing trades. Furthermore, this leaves virtually zero financial flexibility to re-sign their remaining restricted free agents, most notably star forward Cutter Gauthier.