Tristan Luneau has not spent much time in the NHL yet, but the Anaheim Ducks have made a clear call on where they believe he is headed. The 22-year-old defenseman signed a six-year contract worth $43.2 million Thursday, carrying a $7.2 million annual cap hit.
A second-round pick, No. 21 overall in the 2022 NHL Draft, Luneau has appeared in 14 NHL games across three seasons. His opportunity to become a full-time Ducks regular is now squarely in front of him after Anaheim lost four defensemen from last season’s group: Jacob Trouba, Radko Gudas, Olen Zellweger and John Carlson.
“Signing Tristan to a long-term contract was a priority as we see him as a top-four defenseman for years to come,” Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said. “Getting the deal done before the season started was a key part of our planning for now and the future.”
Luneau played one game for Anaheim last season after making seven appearances in 2023-24 and six more in 2024-25. He made the most of his latest look, scoring a goal in the Ducks’ 5-4 victory over the Nashville Predators on April 16.
Most of his work last season came with San Diego of the American Hockey League, where he posted 10 goals and 31 assists for 41 points in 70 games. The numbers reinforced the puck-moving upside Anaheim has seen since drafting the Quebec native.
San Diego coach Dave Manson said Luneau has the tools to handle substantial minutes while contributing at both ends of the rink. Manson pointed particularly to Luneau’s NHL appearance in Nashville, where the young defenseman kept his game direct and played to his strengths by moving the puck efficiently.
A larger role awaits on Anaheim’s blue line
The contract continues an aggressive summer of long-term investment in Anaheim’s younger core. The Ducks signed 22-year-old defenseman Pavel Mintyukov to a five-year deal July 5, then retained forward Leo Carlsson on a five-year, $90 million contract July 9 after matching the offer sheet he had signed with the Philadelphia Flyers.
Luneau now joins that group with a sizeable commitment and a path to regular NHL duty. Anaheim is betting that his limited big-league sample will soon give way to the workload of a reliable top-four defender.
The Ducks open the season Friday on the road against the Vegas Golden Knights. Puck drop is set for 10 p.m. ET, with coverage on Prime Video, SCRIPPS, KCOP-13, SN and TVAS.
