Ducks Players File for Arbitration Ahead of Deadline

News Summary

Lukas Dostal and Drew Helleson of the Anaheim Ducks have filed for salary arbitration ahead of the July 5 deadline, joining a group of NHL restricted free agents. This move protects them from offer sheets while negotiations proceed, highlighting the complexities surrounding their contracts in the NHL. Dostal’s rising value suggests he may receive a significant raise, while Helleson’s future remains uncertain amid the Ducks’ defensive prospects. The upcoming arbitration hearings are expected to significantly impact the team’s roster management and salary cap strategy.

ANAHEIM, CA

Goaltender Lukas Dostal and defenseman Drew Helleson of the Anaheim Ducks have officially filed for salary arbitration ahead of the July 5, 2025, deadline. This filing makes them part of a group of 11 NHL restricted free agents (RFAs) leveraging their right to arbitration.

Following these filings, the Ducks are not required to make their own arbitration requests, as only three of their eight qualified RFAs, including Dostal, Helleson, and Judd Caulfield, were eligible. It is noteworthy that Caulfield recently signed a standard player contract with the American Hockey League’s (AHL) San Diego Gulls, thus proceeding with negotiations for the other two players.

The upcoming arbitration hearings, which are slated to occur between July 20 and August 4, 2025, will be critical for both players, as filing for arbitration protects them from being signed by other teams under an offer sheet. This arrangement enables the Ducks to either match any offers that might come in or receive compensation in the form of draft picks if they opt not to match.

Currently, the Ducks hold significant salary cap space, equipping them to consider and match potential offers made to their remaining RFAs, which mitigates the risks usually inherent in offer sheets. Nevertheless, the arbitration process places added pressure on the Ducks to finalize a deal before the scheduled hearings, potentially impacting their leverage in salary discussions.

Lukas Dostal’s Situation

Lukas Dostal, who previously signed a two-year contract worth $812,500 per season, has emerged as the primary goaltender for the Ducks, especially following his performances during the 2024-25 season. As a result, expectations for a raise are high. Analytics from AFP suggest two potential contract options: a one-year deal valued at approximately $3.97 million or a five-year agreement averaging $5.2 million per season, which underscores Dostal’s rising value. Moreover, should Dostal remain with the Ducks beyond this contract, he is set to qualify for unrestricted free agent status in 2027.

Drew Helleson’s Path

Drew Helleson’s arbitration request comes on the heels of his three-year entry-level contract, which had a cap hit of $925,000. In his third season, Helleson solidified his role within the Ducks’ lineup, earning a fifth-place vote for the Calder Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s top rookie. He recorded four goals and nine assists during the 2024-25 season while also leading all NHL rookie defensemen in plus/minus statistics.

The decision to file for arbitration conveys potential uncertainty regarding Helleson’s future with the Ducks, especially given the team’s current deep pipeline of defensive prospects. Projections from AFP Analytics suggest that Helleson could receive a one-year contract valued around $874,125, reflecting his qualifying offer amount. This situation offers insights into the team’s evaluation of Helleson and the ongoing negotiations surrounding his contract.

Context and Future Outlook

While the arbitration process can often lead to contentious hearings—sometimes characterized by teams presenting unfavorable assessments of a player’s value—the filings of Dostal and Helleson illustrate the complexities surrounding player contracts in the NHL. As the Ducks navigate these negotiations in advance of the hearings, their decisions will not only shape the immediate future of both players but also have longer-term implications for the team’s roster management and salary cap strategy going forward.

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Additional Resources

• NHL: Players File for Salary Arbitration
• Daily Faceoff: Sabres and Mammoth Elect Arbitration
• The Hockey News: Ducks Players File for Arbitration
• Wikipedia: National Hockey League
• Forbes: NHL Salary Arbitration Class
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Hockey