It’s a youth-driven league, folks, and the quality of the NHL’s restricted free agents this summer is deep.
We have first-line wingers and at least one franchise centreman who are due for raises, and the number of young top-pair defencemen and emerging goaltenders with No. 1 potential is staggering.
Vancouver’s Jim Benning may be under the most pressure to negotiate long-term extensions with his RFAs. Despite taking care of Thatcher Demko and Conor Garland, he still has two big guns to compensate.
Cale Makar got paid in Colorado, Miro Heiskanen in Dallas, Brandon Carlo in Boston.
Joel Eriksson Ek committed to Minnesota, and Anthony Duclair and Sam Bennett to Florida.
Detroit’s Steve Yzerman heisted Carolina for Alex Nedeljkovic and instantly inked him to a two-year bridge at $3 million per.
But these extensions are just the tip of the iceberg.
Seventeen RFAs elected to file for salary arbitration. Hearings will be held Aug. 11-26.
Here’s where things stand with the top RFAs of 2021.
1. Quinn Hughes 
Age: 21
Position: Defence
2020-21 salary cap hit: $916,667
Arbitration rights: No
Bargaining chips: 2020 Calder runner-up. Power-play quarterback. 97 points through first 129 NHL games. Key building block in Vancouver. Averages nearly 23 minutes per game.
The latest: Preliminary contract talks got underway between Benning and the two most important engines of the Canucks’ rebuild in early April.
Hughes has been putting up gaudier numbers than recent RFA defencemen (Charile McAvoy, Zach Werenski, Mikhail Sergachev) and is arguably more important to his franchise’s future.
Benning drew mild criticism for the in-season extensions he handed out to Demko and Tanner Pearson, essentially signing some smaller fish before dealing with the biggies.
While significant money came off the books in July — Loui Eriksson, Alex Edler, Jay Beagle, Antoine Roussel — Vancouver inherited Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s huge contract, still has multiple RFAs to satisfy and is dealing with Roberto Luongo’s cap recapture penalty.
Perhaps bridge is the only solution. The good news for panicky people in Van City: Hughes is classified as a 10.2(c) RFA, meaning he cannot sign an offer sheet.
On June 15, agent J.P. Barry suggested to Donnie and Dhali on CHEK that he is exploring a deal longer than five years for Hughes.
Term will be a major sticking point, and fellow RFAs Heiskanen and Makar helped set Hughes’ market. He won’t be cheap.
Conversations continue.
Which brothers would you be most excited to see on the ice?
Jack, Luke & Quinn Hughes pic.twitter.com/1fM9BUPqhk— NHL (@NHL) July 26, 2021
2. Elias Pettersson
Age: 22
Position: Centre
2020-21 salary cap hit: $925,000
Arbitration rights: No
Bargaining chips: 2019 Calder Trophy winner. Finished 16th in Hart voting in 2020. 66 points in each of his first two seasons. Plus-19 player. Career 17.6 per cent shooter. No. 1 centre. Put up 21 points through 26 games in 2021, and it still feels like underachieving.
The latest: In late January, Pettersson switched agents, leaving Michael Deutsch at Eclipse Sports Management and joining teammate Hughes at CAA. Power brokers Pat Brisson and Barry will handle their extension negotiations — and hold a great deal of leverage.
Barry told Rick Dhaliwal that the plan is to work on both deals together, like the twin monsters Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane signed in the summer of 2014. Unlike Hughes, Pettersson could theoretically ink an offer sheet.
Barry, you may recall, put the screws to Benning in securing lucrative contracts for Tyler Myers and Loui Eriksson in recent off-seasons. But they were UFAs, not RFAs.
“The Canucks have cap issues. I don’t think we can do long-term deals for Petey and Quinn. We have started the dance; we are engaged in talks,” Barry told Donnie and Dhali.
“We are exploring shorter term for Elias, five years and under. Quinn longer.”
Sportsnet’s Iain McIntyre estimates that somewhere in the ballpark of $14 million in total AAV could get both stars under contract. One would have to bet that means going the Auston Matthews–style, five-year route and keeping the door ajar for another windfall when the cap escalates.
Benning vowed to match any offer sheet on Pettersson during a Sportsnet radio interview in Vancouver on July 22.
A rehabbing Pettersson tweeted footage of him firing pucks on July 14, an encouraging video for Canucks fans.
Barry reminded on July 30 that agreeing on term is a hurdle in negotiations, but the good news is that both Hughes and Pettersson are committed to re-signing with Vancouver.
Pat Brisson: you can put enough money aside at that point (5 years) you can be suited financially and still have an option to decide on your destiny perhaps if you want to move to another team and you could also have another bite at the apple and sign an 8-year deal then #canucks
— BuckFoston (@BuckFoston_) January 25, 2021
3. Kirill Kaprizov 
Age: 24
Position: Left wing
2020-21 salary cap hit: $925,000
Arbitration rights: Yes, but did not file
Bargaining chips: 2021 Calder champ. Blew up with 27 goals and 51 points in 55 games as an NHL rookie, while logging 18-plus minutes nightly. Most points and goals by a rookie in Wild history. Instant star and fan favourite. Minnesota is desperate for young, exciting offensive talent.
The latest: Wild insider Michael Russo of The Athletic reported in late March that Kaprizov’s agent, Paul Theofanous, sat down with GM Bill Guerin to kick off “a long conversation that will eventually lead to a new contract” for the most exciting young talent to pull on a Wild sweater since… who? Marian Gaborik?
Kaprizov’s status as a 10.2(c) RFA means he’s immune to an offer sheet. His only leverage is threatening to sign in the KHL.
He can become a UFA as early as the 2024 off-season, so Guerin should be gunning for term here.
In polling execs and agents, Russo’s sources’ predictions on Kaprizov’s next contract range from a $6.5-million AAV on a two-year deal to a $9-million AAV for a lockup of six years plus.
Kaprizov headlines a Minnesota RFA class that includes prized forward Kevin Fiala. (The club already took care of Ryan Hartman and Eriksson Ek before they hit free-agent status.)
Certainly, the twin buyouts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter freed up cash for this summer’s spending.
Kevin Weekes caused a stir on June 18 with his report that talks had gone cold and that Kaprizov was threatening to sign back in the KHL, yanking on his only leverage in this situation.
Guerin said on July 13 that “dialogue is open” with Kaprisov’s camp and that talks began around July 3. The GM cautioned the sides are still early in the process.
Sources described negotiations to ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski as “a deafening silence” at the end of July.
Publicly, Guerin says simply there is nothing new to announce.
The KHL pressure point was raised again on Aug. 9, when Frank Seravalli reported that Kaprisov has a deal in place with CSKA Moscow for one year and eight figures should a new contract with the Wild fail to work out.
Guerin has indicated for a month that he’s willing to compromise by signing Kaprizov to a mid-range deal (five or six years).
“The Wild still expect to get a contract consummated with Kaprizov despite the threat continuing to come from Kaprizov’s side,” Russo reports.
Initial hang-up was MIN was only interested in a 7 or 8-year deal for the Calder Trophy winner. That’s not the case. Bunch of options in term.
But the Kaprizov camp contends there has been no offer made since April.
We’ll see where this goes, two sides remain in communication.— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) August 9, 2021
4. Brady Tkachuk 
Age: 21
Position: Left wing
2020-21 salary cap hit: $925,000
Arbitration rights: No
Bargaining chips: Finished fifth in Calder votes in 2019. 125 points through first 198 NHL games. Plays 18-plus minutes per night. Willing to fight Shea Weber. Hits hard and often. Beloved by teammates and fans. His prime will align with Sens’ ascent. Captain material.
The latest: Tkachuk has expressed his love for playing in the nation’s capital. He’s also revealed that his in-depth conversations with management regarding a new contract have been limited.
“That’s a good question,” Tkachuk told reporters in January. “Where the world’s at right now, we haven’t really been talking about (my extension), and we don’t know how the salary cap is going to look for the next couple of years.
“I love being here. I love the crew, love the teammates and the staff, so definitely love it here. But we’ll see how it unfolds.”
Pierre Dorion re-signed head coach D.J. Smith, which should please Tkachuk. The GM has the cap room to commit and has shown a preference to go deep with RFAs he deems worthy of the core (see: Chabot, Colin White and Matt Murray).
Tkachuk is absolutely worth the investment, so it’ll be fascinating to see how he plays this out. Senators fans needn’t be reminded of past free agents who’ve departed for more money elsewhere.
“We haven’t really started to talk yet,” Tkachuk told the Cam and Strick podcast in June. “So, I’m going to give you the hockey answer and then I’m going to give you the real answer. I will let my agent (Newport Sports’ Craig Oster) and Pierre figure it out.
“I think it’s pretty cool going through this for the first time. Of course, it’s a little stressful, and people say you shouldn’t think about it, but it’s your life.
“For it now to be kind of getting into the works this summer, it’s definitely going to be exciting, and I hear different stories about different negotiations and how they go. Being there with Matthew and with his negotiations (with the Calgary Flames), I’m just excited that it’s happened to me.”
Shawn Simpson reported on Aug. 5 that “Brady loves the crew in Ottawa. But he’s totally waiting to see if ownership is willing to spend what it takes to deliver a Cup team. How that relates to this summer and his deal, I’m not sure. But it was made very clear that he would be all in long term if ownership does the same. At the same time they know the business and won’t be playing any games.”
Elliotte Friedman suggested on July 12 that a three-year bridge might be the route here:
5. Andrei Svechnikov 
Age: 21
Position: Right wing
2020-21 salary cap hit: $925,000
Arbitration rights: No
Bargaining chips: Second-overall pick. Big power forward (six-foot-two, 200 pounds) entering prime. Two 20-goal seasons before age 21. Power-play weapon. Skating a career-high 17-plus minutes.
The latest: “I’m open,” Svechnikov said way back in August regarding re-signing. “I think my agent is going to do that job, and I tell him I don’t want to know anything (until) it’s going to be done. So, he’s going to tell me when it’s going to be done, and I just don’t want to worry about that.”
Extension talks with Svechnikov reportedly quieted in February, but picked up after Carolina was eliminated in Round 2.
Owner Tom Dundon is always looking for a deal, and it’s no coincidence the Canes’ last high-profile RFA, Sebastian Aho, signed the NHL’s most recent offer sheet. Or that Nedeljkovic and Dougie Hamilton left to get paid.
“Mark Gandler, who represents Andrei, and I have had lots of talks over the last six weeks,” Waddell said on July 24.
“We’ll get a deal done. I don’t think it’s going to happen before Wednesday. There’s no urgency from either side right now. We don’t start playing until September. These contracts for these type of players will get done; they just take a long time to get done.
“Our talks have been very good about what length of a contract and right around the amount, we have a little disagreement there, but we have a pretty good range of how things are going to fall. So we’re able to plan, regardless if we get him signed before now or next week. We can plan and know that he’s going to be part of our group moving forward.”
6. Filip Hronek 
Age: 23
Position: Defence
2020-21 salary cap hit: $714,166
Arbitration rights: No
Bargaining chips: 2017 Calder Cup champ. 2019 Red Wings rookie of the year. Team Czech staple who won Best Defenceman at 2019 worlds. Puck-moving, right-shot defenceman yet to reach his ceiling. Led team in points (26) and assists (24) this season. Logs 23:23 per game. Improved discipline and defensively during platform year.
The latest: Fantasy managers know: Hronek is that rare Red Wing worth hanging onto, even during the mighty franchise’s patient rebuild.
“A year from now, Filip Hronek’s up and we’ll extend his contract,” promised GM Steve Yzerman back in October, during an appearance on 97.1 The Ticket.
As recently as the 2021 trade deadline, when he dealt away Mantha, Yzerman highlighted Hronek as a core member of a roster he’s slowly building back to prominence.
Even with the Jakub Vrana and Tyler Bertuzzi deals, Detroit is flush with cap space, so Hronek should surface this summer with more term than any of his teammates. Yzerman was prudent in managing his internal cap in Tampa, so the bar he sets with Hronek will be one worth watching.
Writers, media should talk more about Filip Hronek. Yeah, he’s playing for the Red Wings who are in the rebuild, but he is very good defenseman. We believe he would be a TOP4 defenseman for every team in the NHL. Let’s hope we’ll see Seider-Hronek pair very soon! pic.twitter.com/xWy0hwoHis
— Andy & Rono (@HockeyStatsCZ) April 5, 2021
7. Juuse Saros 
Age: 26
Position: Goaltender
2020-21 salary cap hit: $1.5 million
Arbitration rights: Yes — and filed
Bargaining chips: World junior gold medallist. Natural successor to UFA Pekka Rinne’s long run as Nashville’s No. 1 netminder. Career .920 goaltender coming off a personal-best 21-win, .927 season. Started all 2021 playoff games for the Predators and showed well.
The latest: GM David Poile said at his season-ending conference that he and Saros’s representatives had yet to dive into negotiations, but with Rinne retiring and Saros proving he can handle No. 1 duties, anything less than an juicy Juuse extension will be a shock.
The question will be whether Nashville goes long-term (see: Murray in Ottawa or Demko in Vancouver) or bridge (Tristan Jarry in Pittsburgh, Mackenzie Blackwood in New Jersey) with its RFA netminder.
Saros filed for salary arbitration, which means that he’ll be re-signing in Nashville one way or another by month’s end. Arbitration goes Aug. 18.
8. Rasmus Dahlin 
Age: 21
Position: Defence
2020-21 salary cap hit: $925,000
Arbitration rights: No
Bargaining chips: First-overall draft pick in 2018. Calder Trophy finalist in 2019. Fifth defenceman in NHL history to record 30 points before age 19. World junior silver medallist. Building block who wants to stay in Buffalo. 107 points in first 197 NHL games. Skates more than 21 minutes per night.
The latest: The Buffalo News reported on July 21 that contract negotiations are underway between Dahlin and Adams, who has gained some leverage here after the D-man’s disappointing minus-36 performance in 2021.
“Going through a year like this is not easy,” Dahlin said. “The one thing I’ll take with me is that it has been an experience that will make me a stronger person and better player and person.”
Dahlin was encouraged when Don Granato took over the bench, saying he felt more trusted.
The safe play for both sides might be a bridge, but the Sabres don’t have a single defenceman signed beyond 2022.
Could they lock up Dahlin long-term early in this rebuild of the rebuild and position his as their No. 1, the way Ottawa did with Chabot?
Negotiations are underway.
More notable RFAs: Drake Batherson, Nolan Patrick, Ilya Sorokin, Travis Sanheim, Kevin Fiala, Kailer Yamamoto, Nikita Zadorov, Anthony Beauvillier, Adam Erne, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Casey Mittelstadt, Jason Dickinson, Eeli Tolvanen, Dillon Dubé, Robert Thomas, Dennis Cholowski, Juuso Välimäki, Kieffer Bellows, Henri Jokiharju, Filip Gustavsson, Libor Hajek, Dennis Gilbert
All salary info via the essential CapFriendly.com.
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