The Ducks have handed out the largest total-value contract in franchise history to pending RFA defenseman Jackson LaCombe, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports. It’s an eight-year deal worth $9MM per season for a sum of $72MM. The contract is paid out entirely in base salary with no year-to-year variation, per PuckPedia. It includes a full no-trade clause from 2028-31, a 15-team no-trade clause from 2031-33, and a 10-team no-trade clause in the final year of the deal in 2033-34.
It’s an astronomical pay bump for the 24-year-old, who emerged as Anaheim’s No. 1 defenseman just last season. LaCombe, a 2019 second-round pick, signed a two-year deal as an RFA following his rookie season in 2023-24 that pays him $1.85MM in total – one-fifth of what he’ll be making per year on his new deal. He’s entering the final year of that deal, which costs $925K against the cap and would have left him arbitration-eligible next summer.
LaCombe’s emergence wasn’t entirely out of nowhere – he’d been viewed as a higher-end prospect for quite some time – but it was a more explosive breakout than most expected after his rookie campaign fell flat. Coming off four years with the University of Minnesota, LaCombe turned pro in 2023 and broke camp with the Ducks the following fall.
Anaheim was bullish on the three-time Big 10 All-Star, and he spent most of the year in a top-pairing role alongside Cam Fowler. The duo really struggled to control play, though, even for the Ducks’ lowered standards as one of the league’s worst defensive squads. Averaging 19:23 per game, LaCombe had 17 points and a -24 rating in 71 appearances. In 55 games where he was paired with Fowler, they controlled just 39.5% of expected goals – the worst mark of Anaheim’s seven D pairings to log more than 150 minutes together that year, according to MoneyPuck.
LaCombe’s chemistry was much better in more limited usage with captain Radko Gudas on his right side. The Ducks took note of that and made that their new top pairing heading into 2024-25, a move that was only solidified when Fowler was dealt to the Blues a couple of months into the campaign. LaCombe flourished, getting an ice time bump to 22:18 per game while recording a 14-29–43 scoring line in 75 games, posting an even rating on a team with a -44 goal differential to boot. His 49.1% Corsi share at even strength led Ducks defenders, as did all of his offensive metrics.
League-wide, LaCombe quietly moved into consideration as a top-25 rearguard. His 33 even-strength points were tied for 18th, and his 0.57 points per game were 27th – above other established No. 1 guys like Drew Doughty, Colton Parayko, Moritz Seider, and even Miro Heiskanen.
The lack of sample size as a No. 1 will be cause for concern. Still, as the salary cap sharply increases, a $9MM AAV falls more into the “top-pair” category for defenders than “true No. 1.” It’s a matching cap hit to Devils rearguard Luke Hughes, who signed a new deal yesterday after posting comparable offensive stats last year. While there’s some sticker shock compared to what his extension projection would have been at the beginning of the offseason, it’s an in-line response to the recent spike in market values for premier defensemen.
Getting LaCombe’s contract done now is an important piece of business for general manager Pat Verbeek, who still has four other high-profile pending RFAs to contend with. Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Pavel Mintyukov, and Olen Zellweger are all entering the final years of their entry-level contracts. LaCombe was likely the highest-priority target as the only one of the group who had enough professional experience to qualify for arbitration.
The Ducks now have LaCombe, Lukáš Dostál, Mason McTavish, and Troy Terry signed through at least 2030 as their new core continues to take shape. The club still has over $40MM in cap space to burn and 10 open active roster spots for 2026-27, according to PuckPedia.
Image courtesy of Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images.
Thanks Luke Hughes!
Considering this kid put up 43 points and was even and plus minus is pretty remarkable on a bad team that gives up a lot of goals also consider he was a -24 the year before I think Lacombe might be a true number one and the second or third best defense in the league in a couple of seasons
@soccer_ref. Yeah most of the ducks prospects were defensive players of the year. The defense is definitely left side heavy, but they should be very solid soon.
Risky, And reckless, At best!
Another massive overpay that most likely is going to look good as the years progress! I think this means the end of any relevance for Zellweger. With that money Lacombe has to be the undisputed PP1 QB.
Zellweger still averaged more PP time on ice per game than LaCombe did last year. I’m not sure that’s true.
@josh Erickson. Mintyukov is a RFA next year with Zellweger. I believe he’s correct. I doubt they will keep three all three with a hefty price they will probably try to trade Zellweger for a RHD
Zellweger to a team like San Jose or Chicago makes some sense. I could also see him in Tampa for some odd reason
If it is an overpay, please tell us how much less they should have paid him and the reasons that they didn’t.
@doghockey. I bet most of the people commenting dont know the ducks had five LHD last year, and a bad coach. Once they traded fowler and dumoulin. Lacombe was put on the first line, and went off.
I continue to love the Hawks Vlasic extension more and more with every passing day.
we will love Nazar’s too, he looks like he’ll be a better version of Barzal
If I am Kent Hughes I am signing Lane Hutson ASAP
The reason I can’t sleep this week.
How much is worth Hutson ? 8 x 10,25 M$ ?
Right now, that sounds about right! And imagine if he replicates last season. We’re talking 11m
Here we go again another non Stanley Cup contending General Manager overpaying a player with career stats of 60pts in 148 games with a -24 +/- to receive 9M per.
Thx Ducks & Wild way to blow it for the true Stanley Cup contenders.
@richP.was it the ducks or was it the devils signing Hughes. LaCombe has the same production.
Wait until Makar gets 120.
At least he has more than 150 games played and is an undisputed #1 D man.
Per year obviously. Avs will use ALL the cap on him. Just Makar and a goalie signed for the league min.
17 million per has to be Makars floor no?
Will they be able to afford a goalie. Might have to hang a mannequin in the net.
Hahaha! One year in the show and he signs this deal?! Good for him, bad for the team. Should’ve done a bridge deal for 2-3 years and see if he was just a flash it was a pan season!
@Mtog. He wasn’t even playing that much the last two years, because of fowler he was on the third pairing until they traded him, and he took off. It’s not like he was no name prospect and he has the same production and years as Luke hughes.
@rex. I’m not saying he didn’t deserve a raise. Even in the $4-5 million a year range for 2-3 years or more, but cmon man, $9 mill?!? That’s wishful thinking on the Ducks part. I hope it works out and he puts up 60-70 points because that’s what his contract warrants.
@mtog. Darnell nurse got 8/74, and LaCombe already out performed him. Its not as crazy as you think
@rex. Not a good comp. everyone knows that was a massive overpay, especially now.
Rex. It may turn out to be a fair contract, who knows? I’m just saying, after one good year is very risky to give that $$.
@mtog its actually the perfect comp. Ok fine luke hughes got the samething. Either way that’s the price, and nurse is the floor.
@mtog but he’s was one of the many top prospects in the ducks system he stayed in college is why he fell, because it was known, and had a good sophomore year. I dont see any warning flags.
“LaCombe already out performed him”
Do you anything about hockey???
@tcanada. Who are you quoting???.
as a Blackhawks fan im glad we locked up some key young stars to long term cheaper deals, Vlasic right now is better than Lacombe and Hughes and is signed for less than $6M AAV and Nazar is like $6.5M AAV for 7 years after this season after a great showing in preseason with a Hatty as well, whatever Bedard signs for the Blackhawks young core is locked up for less than these other teams that will be contenders in the next couple years
In what world is Vlasic better then either of them?
@speakofthedevils. Haha I just pulled up his stats. Apparently on planet homer.
While I agree it’s nuts is vlasic not a overall good d man not just a Tyson Barrie Esq player
I didnt say he wasnt good or at the very least servicable but DEFINITELY NOT better than either Hughes or LaCombe
@NSco1996. Lacombe only played on the first line for half a year. The year before he was third pairing. It’s not like it was a random breakout. But I agree the prices are going to be insane even this might be a bargain when makar gets 17-18. Bedard is going to hit them in the pockets unless he signs a bridge, but either way a big deal is coming
NHL Alumni just foaming at the mouth right now. I don’t blame them.
“Look kid, just have one good season and the whole family will be set for life!”. :D
@Gbear. One good year out of two years with a ECHL coach, and was defensive player of year in college/ minors. He didn’t get good randomly, but isn’t noticed because his last name isn’t hughes.
I’m well aware of the player from his USA hockey days. Still, one year of good NHL play equaling big $ is quite the thing.
@Gbear well do you know the cap is going up and the market is getting reset. Luckily I sold my bedard 1/1 autograph card for 10 bucks because he’s a bust.
No, I missed the ten thousand articles about the cap going up. But thanks for filling me in on that.
@Gbear. Figured by your comment.
Have fun with Gbear. She is a member of the same clan that hosts as members Nha Trang, Wilf/Sparky/Welcome, and other amusing types. The happy-go-lucky bunch who can’t do anything but get angry and miserable about the fun sport of hockey. The economics of the sport continues to confuse them to the point where they simply cannot grasp that a contract in 2025 is not the same as a contract signed a few years ago by one of their heroes.
@doghockey. I’m glad the trolls have spilled over to the hockey side, because a year ago there was only one comment.
Yikes!!! 😳
Paying a guy with half a good year under his belt more than Crosby ever made might work out OK.
Why are you guys always so angry about hockey players getting paid?
Crosby CHOSE to be underpaid.
People hate to be underpaid because underpaid are also underappreciated. Crosby clearly doesn’t understand that.
Exactly.
That’s why Crosby and his 3 rings and his Mt. Rushmore status are underappreciated compared to Matthews and McDavid and all of those who maxed out their earnings so they could be properly appreciated even with zero rings.
He’s certainly underappreciated by the yinzgrates, that much is true.
The world: Paying $1 million for a toaster seems like it might be a bad idea.
Dog: Some people like toast.
Thanks, Pal. You’re such a useful tool.
There are at least 10 Canadian born defensemen who are around the same age ,who are more talented but still making $775,000 or are being sent down to the AHL
But if you’re an American born player playing in a US city..the sky is the limit