What happened: Gauthier continued his offseason ramp-up Tuesday as training-camp prep moved into the final stretch. That came one day after he agreed to a six-year, $81 million contract that runs through 2031-32.
Why it matters: The contract ends any immediate business drama and shifts attention straight to year-one production under a long-term commitment. Every early scoring run will now be measured against a deal built to make him a core piece for the next six seasons.
By the numbers: Six years and $81 million works out to a $13.5 million average annual value, with the term covering 2026-27 through 2031-32.
What to watch: Camp workload and preseason usage will offer the first read on how quickly Gauthier is expected to shoulder that price tag. A fast October start would put the points question at the center of his opening stretch.