New York Ducks ink goalie Lukáš Dostál to 5-year deal

Lukáš Dostál and the Anaheim Ducks have agreed to a new five-year contract, as announced by the goalie on the team's social media platform on Thursday.

The extension for the restricted free agent is valued at $32.5 million, with an average annual salary of $6.5 million. It covers three years of unrestricted free agent status and includes a 10-team no-trade clause in the final three years. This agreement was reached after Dostál was among 11 players who filed for salary arbitration on July 5.

Dostál explained that he entrusted his agent and the team to handle the arbitration process, stating that most players prefer to avoid it. He expressed satisfaction with the outcome, mentioning that both sides are content with the deal.

Having become Anaheim's primary goalie in the 2024-25 season, Dostál started a career-high 49 games, achieving a 23-23-7 record with a 3.10 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage. Advanced metrics, such as MoneyPuck, indicated that he exceeded expectations by 14.3 goals saved.

Ducks' general manager Pat Verbeek praised Dostál's performance, calling him a top goaltender and expressing optimism about his future contributions to the team. Dostál sees the contract not only as a milestone in his career but also as a commitment to the Ducks' long-term success, emphasizing his belief in the team's young core.

To solidify Dostál's position as the team's primary goalie, the Ducks traded longtime starter John Gibson to the Detroit Red Wings. As part of the trade, veteran goalie Petr Mrázek joined Anaheim as Dostál's new backup. Dostál acknowledged Gibson's mentorship over the years and wished him well in his new chapter.

In his four seasons with Anaheim, Dostál has accumulated a record of 42-58-13, a .902 save percentage, and a 3.29 goals-against average.