The Anaheim Ducks just made sure history didn’t repeat itself. On the heels of losing Leo Carlsson to a massive offer sheet from Philadelphia, the front office moved fast to lock up Pavel Mintyukov before another team could poach him. Pat Verbeek didn’t wait around.
The deal is five years and $7.2 million per season, totaling $36 million. That puts Mintyukov in the same neighborhood as Brandt Clarke, the Kings defenseman who signed a similar extension earlier this summer. Clarke is a year older but has played fewer NHL games than his Russian counterpart. So the Ducks might have gotten a slight discount on a player they hope will anchor their blue line for years.
How Close Was Mintyukov to Leaving?
Pretty close, according to reports. Elliotte Friedman broke the news Sunday that Mintyukov was in offer-sheet negotiations with another team. Frank Seravalli followed up with the contract details. The Ducks brass clearly got word and called an audible. They signed him before the paperwork could land on the league office desk.
What’s interesting is that Mintyukov reportedly wanted to stay in Anaheim all along. The offer sheet wasn’t about getting out. It was about leverage, pure and simple. He got his money either way, but now he gets to keep wearing a Ducks sweater while doing it.
Where Does Mintyukov Fit Now?
Mintyukov was the 10th overall pick in 2022 and has played 204 games for the Ducks. But he hasn’t cracked the top-four consistently yet. That’s why the team brought in Jacob Trouba and John Carlson — to buy time while the younger guys developed. Well, both of those veterans are gone now. The top-four spots are wide open, and Mintyukov has a golden window to grab one and not let go.
The Ducks made the playoffs last season on the strength of their young core. Carlsson was a huge part of that. But now Carlsson’s future in Anaheim is murky — at best. The Flyers signed him to a five-year, $90 million offer sheet that would make him the highest-paid player in the league next season. The Ducks can match it, but that’s a lot of cap space to commit to a 21-year-old center. If they let him walk, Philly owes them four first-round picks. That’s a serious haul.
Mintyukov, at least, is settled. He’s staying. And with the Ducks looking to build around a young nucleus that includes Trevor Zegras, Mason McTavish, and Jamie Drysdale, the Russian defenseman has a real shot to grow into a top-pair role. Not bad for a guy who almost signed away his rights last weekend.
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