NHL
Ducks commit $43.2 million to Tristan Luneau after 14 NHL games
Anaheim has signed the 22-year-old defenseman through 2033, making a substantial investment before he has established himself as an NHL regular.
Tristan Luneau has played 14 NHL games. The Anaheim Ducks have committed $43.2 million to the next stage of his career, signing the 22-year-old defenseman to a six-year extension on Thursday. The Associated Press reported the agreement before Anaheim’s season opener at Vegas.
The extension begins in 2027-28 and runs through 2032-33. PuckPedia lists a $7.2 million annual cap hit, giving Anaheim a fixed cap charge across all six seasons even as the cash payments increase later in the deal.
How the money is structured
PuckPedia’s breakdown lists $4.75 million in total salary in each of the first two seasons, followed by $7.8125 million in each of the next two and $9.0375 million in each of the final two. The first season includes a $3 million signing bonus. A modified no-trade clause applies in the last two years, with a 10-team list.
That structure puts the largest payments near the end of the contract. The cap hit remains $7.2 million throughout; it is an average annual accounting charge, rather than the amount of cash paid each year.
The limited NHL sample follows an interrupted development path. AP reported that a viral infection during preparations with Canada’s junior team cut short Luneau’s 2023-24 season, after which Anaheim kept him largely in San Diego to develop. He made one NHL appearance last season.
General manager Pat Verbeek described Luneau as a “top-four defenseman for years to come” in the team’s announcement. Anaheim has made the financial commitment before seeing him handle that role over a full NHL season.
