Some young, pending RFAs are going to cash in. Who will set the next bar?
TSN: There are some big-named pending RFAs from the 2023 draft that will be looking for a big, new deal, but are remaining patient. Teams would have liked to have them signed by now, but the likes of Connor Bedard, Leo Carlsson, and Adam Fantilli have held off as the market dynamics have shifted. Though he’s from the 2024 draft, are they waiting for Macklin Celebrini to sign an extension first? Chris Johnston:
“And what’s interesting of all, Gino, I don’t think those guys would mind if a younger player, that being Macklin Celebrini, who can sign his next deal as of July 1 with the San Jose Sharks, if he went first in order to sort of establish what the market rate is. Of course, Celebrini is having the most productive of those young stars in terms of his season, almost on the cusp here of hitting the 100-point mark in this year.”
Term will also be something to watch, as this offseason is the last time players will be able to sign for eight years.
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TSN: The camps of Macklin Celebrini and Connor Bedard will be eyeing each other to see who will blink first. Johnston on IT:
“Now, you would think it would be Bedard, given that his contract is expiring, but I don’t know that his camp would necessarily mind if Celebrini put a number on the board first at this point in time, though it’s not clear if that is going to happen.
If the Sharks haven’t engaged at all with Celebrini’s camp on an extension, similarly quiet in the Bedard case but definitely it’s a case of these players being compared against one another, but also looking at each other and wondering who’s going to sign and where those numbers are going to go this summer.”
Toronto Maple Leafs president and CEO of MLSE is meeting with staff and talking to outside people
TSN: According to Pierre LeBrun, the Toronto Maple Leafs president and CEO of MLSE, Keith Pelley, has already started one-on-one meetings with some staff lately, as he takes a deeper dive into the organization. He’s also talking to people outside the organization
“I should point out that Pelley hasn’t limited his meetings to just within the organization but to also meeting with people and picking the brains of people throughout the league.
What Will Pending UFA Darren Raddysh Make on His Next Contract?
The urgency is that he’s got a decision to make, and more than one, and that starts with the GM position, Brad Treliving, who has one more year left on his contract.
Does Pelley decide to stick with Treliving, or does he decide to make a change there?”
It’s a critical offseason for the Maple Leafs, and if they are going to make some changes, he’ll need as much time as he can get.
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