We’re now exactly two weeks from the start of the 2019-20 NHL regular season and eight* restricted free agents are still without contracts. While a few of those names represent depth or role players, five names stand out as potentially disastrous situations. Brayden Point, Mikko Rantanen, Matthew Tkachuk, Kyle Connor and Patrik Laine have all shown superstar ability in their short careers and would be huge talents to leave on the sideline when the season begins. All five forwards scored at least 30 goals last season, with Laine registering the fewest points (50) and Point the most (92).
It’s hard to know exactly when any of them will finally break down the barrier and report to camp at this point. Rantanen and Laine are skating in Switzerland, Tkachuk is with his old OHL team and there have been reports about nearly all of them that things still aren’t close. Just a few days ago Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic tweeted that last offer from the Tampa Bay Lightning to Point was a three-year deal that carried just a $5.7MM average annual value. That would represent a much lower number than someone like Mitch Marner signed for, but Tampa Bay has long maintained the philosophy of low-cost bridge deals for their star players coming out of the entry-level system.
It seems likely then that at least one of these five will miss games at the start of the season. Preseason games have already started without them in training camp and opening night is quickly approaching. But who is the most likely to be without a contract on October 2nd? Cast your vote below and make sure to explain your thoughts in the comment section.
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*There are actually several other RFAs that do not have NHL contracts, but they have already signed elsewhere around the globe to play in other leagues.
5.7 mill for Point is an insult. 7-8 mill sounds more like it.
$8MM would push them uncomfortably close to the cap, but $7-7.75MM wouldn’t be unreasonable. Unfortunately, Point’s camp might see that as not good enough. It needs to be, though.
Nah kuch , stammer has the same thing, 5.7!mil isn’t as bad as you think , those other guys are facing a state income tax whereas Florida has none . If he wants to hold out it’s going to hurt him and his hurt hip in the long run , the only other choice he has is to sign an offer sheet ( which he’s turned down already) or sit out . He can’t goto any other league and make anything close to the bridge offer and his agent can’t be surprised that they got the bridge offer as that’s the way the lightning do business — he’s not going to get meaner money and your not going to pay him more than , kuch stammer Herman and vasy — not to mention only a couple of teams could give those picks up and if they did they wouldn’t be in any shape to compete
betting Laine draws the Line
Didn’t you mean, Laine draws the Line, eh? ;)
10 mil for Laine, 4 mil for Connor , if they don’t have to acquire another right Hand Defenseman should Byfuglien hang em’ up !
No way Laine gets 10 mil. He should be hoping for a bridge deal after the stinker he put up last year.
Definitely! Bridge deal for the Night Train. Connor deserves a bit more than $4MM, just not a crazy amount (yet).
If Travis Konecny just signed for 5.5M a season, there’s no way Connor signs for less than that. 30 goal men get paid.
agree M34 was looking at without figuring salary if Byfuglien’s contract , gonna be tough haul for Jets if Laine doesn’t sign , have a feeling Connor will sign in few days , Laine, Point, Rantanen maybe the ones that hold out . and Winnipeg has to make a move for Right Shot Defenseman, before any paper gets signed.
Kyle Connor are to take advantage of Laine’s indecision not signing in asking for some of that cap space available they have $15.4 + million , don’t know if that will increase if Byfuglien doesn’t play anymore if his contract comes off books, maybe Gavin or even Mac could elaborate in that scenario of money coming back. Gonna be long year in the Peg . now heard rumors of looking for defenseman to sign so rough times for Winnipeg GM,