Frank Vatrano had a fantastic day on Sunday; few players will have that kind of day.
Vatrano scored two goals and provided an assist in the Ducks’ 4-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning after agreeing to a three-year contract extension with Anaheim through the 2027–28 campaign.
“I constantly say that if it weren’t for the guys in this room, I wouldn’t be in this situation. After the game, Vatrano remarked, “They encourage me to be my best every day.” One of the greatest rooms I’ve ever been in is this one. I’m eager to create that winning culture and am thrilled about the transformation here.”
In his third season with Anaheim, the 30-year-old forward is playing. In 201 games with the Ducks, he has scored 70 goals and provided 54 assists, including 11 goals and 12 assists so far this season.
According to a source familiar with the agreement, Vatrano will receive $3 million in the following three seasons and an additional $9 million in deferred income starting in 2035, according to The Associated Press.
Since the Ducks don’t disclose the financial terms of their contracts, the individual talked to the AP under the condition of anonymity.
Since signing with Anaheim as a free agent in 2022, Vatrano has been a reliable top-six forward and has scored the most goals on the team. Despite leading the Ducks with 37 goals and 60 points the previous season, general manager Pat Verbeek turned down offers to move him to a contender because he wanted to maintain Vatrano as a vital component of his Anaheim rebuild.
Prior to the game, Verbeek stated, “We’re excited to have Frank in the sense that he wants to be here.” “We value his goal-scoring ability, and I think that that’s going to be important as we as we start to become a lot more competitive in the next two years.”
In order to keep Vatrano’s cap number low, the Ducks and Vatrano agreed to the deferred salary structure of his contract. Because California’s relatively high state income tax occasionally influences players’ contract decisions, he is also expected to gain from tax advantages dependent on where he resides in 2035.
Although the NHL’s collective bargaining agreement permits deferred salaries, they haven’t been utilized much until this season.
In the summer, Carolina signed extensions with Jacob Slavin and Seth Jarvis, with salaries postponed until 2032 and 2033, respectively. Jake McCabe signed a five-year contract deal with deferred money until 2031 with Toronto during the first month of the season.
“I think my experience as a former player is players don’t realize when you retire, those checks that you’ve been getting for the last 10 years suddenly stop,” Verbeek stated. This made it possible for Frank to be in a position where he will be able to support and care for his family for the ensuing ten years. It turned into a victory the more we discussed it and the more the opposing side comprehended it.
When its large group of young players approaches free agency and the Ducks push against the league’s boundaries, as they plan to do, Anaheim is also preparing ahead of time to have salary cap room.
Four forwards selected in the top five of different NHL drafts—Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Mason McTavish, and Beckett Sennecke—as well as talented defensemen Olen Zellweger, Pavel Mintyukov, and Jackson LaCombe are among the Ducks’ many elite players still under entry-level contracts.
“You need to consider the wider picture, in my opinion. I see money as a means of providing for my family’s future. However, it ultimately benefits the team as well,” Vatrano stated. “Our squad is young. I was aware that the men would eventually be due for a large deal. I desired to take part in it.
Vatrano’s three-year, $10.95 million contract with the Ducks would have ended this summer, making him a restricted free agent. He has 171 goals and 123 assists in 602 NHL appearances. He started his NHL career with the Boston Bruins and had stints with the Florida Panthers and the New York Rangers before joining Anaheim as a free agent. He was an undrafted free agent from western Massachusetts.
“He has always had a good shot and is an excellent skater, but he is now turning that into a consistent goal scorer. Coach Greg Cronin remarked of Vatrano, “I believe that anyone who scores more than 25 goals in the NHL can be considered a goal scorer in today’s generation.” “I predict that he will score more than 25 goals this season. He’s going to get a lot of them, I believe.
“I’m sure the contract is going to take some weight off his head as far as where his next stop is, because he’s going to be with us for another three years, which is awesome for us.”
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!