After nearly four months of negotiations and moving pieces around, the Ducks signed defenseman Hampus Lindholm to a six-year contract extension Thursday worth $5.25 million annually.
The deal, first reported by TSN, pays $3 million the first year and $6 million, $6.75 million, $5.25 million, $3.75 million and $6.75 million in the ensuing seasons.
The Ducks are up against the salary cap. They were able to make the deal because defenseman Simon Despres is on long-term injured reserve, so his $3.7-million salary is not on the books. Anaheim would have to move money out, likely via a trade, in order to be cap compliant once Despres comes off injured reserve from concussion-like symptoms.