Top 12 pending NHL restricted free agents
Sportsnet: A look at the top 12 NHL unrestricted free agents
1. Evan Bouchard – RHD – Edmonton Oilers – Could he cost in the $10 million range? Has some defensive lapses, and his points dropped from 82 to 67 in the regular season. Having a good playoffs.
2. Luke Hughes – LHD – New Jersey Devils – Brock Faber’s eight-year deal at $8.5 million is a comparable. Do they try to bridge at a lower number, around $5 million? That could cost more later though.
3. Noah Dobson – RHD – New York Islanders – Has hit 60 assists and 70 points in a season, as a right-handed defenseman. Long-term deal could be eight-years at $8 million per.
4. Matthew Knies – LW – Toronto Maple Leafs – He wants to stay, and the Leafs want to keep the 22-year-old. They’ll look for a long-term deal.
NHL Rumors: Coaching Carousel – Kraken, Bruins, and Penguins
5. Gabriel Vilardi – C/RW – Winnipeg Jets – A top-six forward and two years away from being a UFA. GM Kevin Cheveldayoff thinks they’ll be able to find common ground on a new deal.
6. JJ Peterka – C – Buffalo Sabres – He could be looking for a long-term deal at more than $7 million per season. A bridge deal might be easier to work out. Back-to-back 20-goal seasons.
7. K’Andre Miller – LHD – New York Rangers – Owed a $4.65 million qualifying offer and a longer-term deal could cost the Rangers in the $6 to $6.5 million range. The Rangers don’t have a lot of cap space to work with.
8. Lukas Dostal – G – Anaheim Ducks – Contract talks have started. The Ducks will likely continue to look to move John Gibson.
9. Morgan Geekie – C – Boston Bruins – The big forward put up 30 goals and had his first 50 point season. He did shoot 22% this year. GM Don Sweeney isn’t worried about re-signing him.
10. Marco Rossi – C – Minnesota Wild – Put up 60 points, and the Wild might be thinking a bridge deal, similar to Cole Perfetti’s two-year, $6.5 million. The Wild’s top priority will be a Kirill Kaprizov contract extension. They have a couple of centers – Danila Yurov and Riely Heidt – who are close. Rossi turned down an offer earlier in the season and has had his name in the rumor mill.
11. Mason McTavish – C – Anaheim Ducks – The Ducks have the cap space but do have to keep in mind the number of young players who will need contracts. Quinton Byfield’s five-year, $6.25 million could be a comparable.
NHL Rumors: Mathieu Darche Has To Get Work Right on the Islanders Roster
12. Dmitri Voronkov – C – Columbus Blue Jackets – Hit 20 goals this past season and has been given a top-six opportunity. The Blue Jackets have cap space.
Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s new, and we’re just getting started. Rumor roundups and hot topics from around the league.