Jackson LaCombe, Ducks Agree to Biggest Contract in Team History Ahead of NHL Season

The Anaheim Ducks are re-signing defenseman Jackson LaCombe to the largest deal in franchise history, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported Thursday.

LaCombe's eight-year, $72 million deal will set a Ducks record in terms of total contract value, according to Friedman.

LaCombe is set to play the 2025-26 season on $925,000 cap hit, per Spotrac. He was previously scheduled to hit restricted free agency next spring.

The news comes the day after the New Jersey Devils signed young defenseman Luke Hughes to a comparable seven-year, $63 million extension.

LaCombe, a second-round 2019 draft pick who played four seasons for the University of Minnesota, made his NHL debut late in the Ducks' 2022-23 season.

He rejoined the Ducks as a full-time NHLer for the 2023-24 campaign, skating more than 19 minutes per night in 71 games as a rookie.

LaCombe's production jumped last season alongside his ice time and his shooting percentage.

Mostly as a top-pairing partner to Radko Gudas, LaCombe led Anaheim's defenseman with 14 goals and ranked fourth on the team with 29 assists for 43 points in 75 games.

The 24-year-old enters the 2025-26 season with 60 points in 148 career games for the Ducks.

LaCombe's new contract indicates the Ducks are expecting him to take another step forward during his third NHL season. General manager Pat Verbeek said in a statement he believes LaCombe "has all of the tools to be an anchor on our back end for many years to come."

The defenseman will now join center Mason McTavish, who signed a six-year extension with the Ducks last week, alongside Lukas Dostal as key pieces of Anaheim's young core going forward.

LaCombe will once more be expected to help anchor the top pairing alongside Gudas when the Ducks open the 2025-26 NHL season next Thursday with a road game against the Seattle Kraken.