Artyom Duda signs 2-year extension with Mammoth

The cap hit is small. What matters is the guaranteed money, and Brogan Houston did the math once the full breakdown came out.

Brogan Houston

@houston_brogan

Now that we have the full breakdown, it’s clear Duda will get paid a lot more on the new contract than the old one. In year 1, his salary jumps from $177,500 (incl. signing bonus) to $220,000. That number becomes significantly higher if he spends time in the NHL. In year 2, his pay is one-way, so he’ll earn $950,000 no matter where he plays. t.co/ustSZiB4hR

PuckPedia

@PuckPedia

The #TusksUp signed 22 y/o D Artyom Duda to a two year $925K cap hit contract Yr 1: $900K Salary, $175K Minors, $220K Guaranteed Yr 2: $950K Salary 1-way Rep'd by Daniel Milstein and Vlad Spektor @GoldStarHockey t.co/i0At7nwROU

That's the whole deal right there. Year 1 is still a 2-way contract, paying $900,000 in the NHL and $175,000 in the minors, but at least $220,000 is guaranteed. Year 2 goes 1-way at $950,000, so he gets paid NHL money even if he spends that season riding the bus in Tucson. For a kid with 0 NHL games, a guaranteed 1-way year is a real raise and a clear sign the front office believes in him.

The timing is not a coincidence either. Duda, also spelled Artem in most reports, was called up from the AHL's Tucson Roadrunners on October 20 to fill in for John Marino, who is out with an upper-body injury. The Mammoth locked him up while he was sitting in the press box waiting for his chance, and he could make his NHL debut against Tampa Bay.

This franchise has had him for a while. He was the 36th overall pick in the 2022 draft, back when the team was still in Arizona, and he spent 2023-24 at Toronto Metropolitan University, where he had 7 points in 12 games. Since turning pro in 2024-25 he's put up 9 goals, 45 points and a +28 in 103 AHL games with Tucson. Those are solid numbers for a young defenseman in that league.

The extension doesn't start until July 1, 2027, when his current entry-level deal (3 years, $2.85 million total, $950K AAV) runs out, and it runs through 2028-29. Utah keeps a cheap depth defenseman under control for 2 more seasons and avoids an RFA negotiation next summer. Duda gets security. The fair read is that he probably isn't a top-4 guy, but he could hold down a third-pair spot for years at near-minimum money.

Next up is the debut. If Marino's injury drags on and Duda plays well in his minutes, the guaranteed second year starts to look like Utah got a bargain. If he gets sent back to Tucson when Marino returns, he still has $950,000 coming in 2028-29 no matter where he plays.