What happened: Anaheim locked up Tristan Luneau at a $7.2 million average annual value after signing the defenseman on Oct. 1. The agreement is billed as the largest contract in NHL history for a player with 14 games played. Anaheim kept him in the AHL last season after previous injuries and views him as a future top-four defenseman.

Why it matters: The commitment makes clear the Ducks are paying for projection, not a long NHL track record. It also gives Anaheim long-term cost certainty on a blue-line piece it believes can grow into a top-four role, reinforcing the club's recent investment in Tristan Luneau.

What to watch: The next question is how quickly Luneau turns that bet into a full-time NHL role. His usage through camp and the opening stretch will show how fast Anaheim wants that top-four projection to materialize.