Source: Ducks ink LaCombe to team-record deal

The Anaheim Ducks person locked up defenseman Jackson LaCombe, a cardinal portion of their rebuilding team, connected a semipermanent declaration extension.

LaCombe, 24, signed an eight-year woody that carries a $9 cardinal mean yearly value, a root told ESPN connected Thursday. The declaration is the largest ever fixed retired by the Ducks.

The hold has the aforesaid AAV arsenic the woody defenseman Luke Hughes signed with the New Jersey Devils connected Wednesday, though that was connected a seven-year term.

LaCombe's caller declaration volition statesman successful the 2026-27 play and extremity successful 2033-34. He has 1 twelvemonth near connected a two-year span woody ($925,000 AAV) that helium signed successful 2024.

LaCombe was selected 39th wide successful the 2019 NHL draft. He has 60 points successful 148 NHL games, with a career-best 14 goals and 29 assists successful 75 games past play for the Ducks arsenic helium formed an effectual pairing with bruising seasoned defenseman Radko Gudas.

Anaheim wide manager Pat Verbeek said extending LaCombe was "a priority" for the squad and that the young defenseman has "all of the tools to beryllium an anchor connected our backmost extremity for galore years to come."

LaCombe said it was an "easy decision" to spell agelong word successful Anaheim.

"We are gathering thing peculiar present and I americium excited to bash everything I tin to assistance this squad win," helium said successful a statement.

The Minnesota alum was invited to the U.S. Men's Olympic Orientation Camp, putting him successful contention for a spot connected the 2026 men's hockey squad that volition conflict for golden successful Italy. LaCombe helped the U.S. win golden astatine the 2025 satellite championships -- the Americans' archetypal golden astatine the lawsuit successful 92 years.

This is the 2nd large signing for Verbeek successful the past week. The Ducks and restricted escaped cause halfway Mason McTavish agreed to a six-year, $42 cardinal extension Saturday, ending a contentious dialog that kept him retired of grooming camp.

Anaheim is seeking its archetypal playoff berth since 2018.