Big Names Stay Patient as Extension Talks Loom

As the extension market heats up, several big-name forwards are staying patient while the landscape continues to reset, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on his 32 Thoughts podcast.

Several key players have one year remaining on their deals, making now an opportunity for extensions to be handed out. But with the new season quickly approaching, players like Jack Eichel, Alex Tuch, and Kyle Connor are expected to wait and see how the market develops.

In Eichel’s case, Friedman said he would be “shocked” if the forward doesn’t remain with the Vegas Golden Knights long-term. However, that isn’t stopping the 28-year-old from trying to maximize the value of his next extension. Coming off a career-high 94-point season, Eichel is entering the final year of his contract, which carries a $10 million AAV — a number that’s likely to rise with any future extension.

Friedman believes players like Tuch and Connor are in similar situations. Both are coming off what could be considered the best seasons of their careers, and both have one year remaining on their current contracts. Tuch matched a career high with 36 goals last season for the Sabres, while Connor finished just three points shy of 100 with the Jets.

“I think this whole group of players, they’re all feeling it out,” Friedman said. “Everyone is feeling it out to see how the market resets.”

Friedman feels the extension market will start to pick up after a relatively slow summer and believes Frank Nazar’s recent seven-year extension with the Blackhawks will help speed things along. While Nazar’s situation differs from that of established veterans — the 21-year-old has played just 56 career NHL games — his lengthy extension still offers a useful benchmark for veterans during negotiations.

“And that Nazar one, one of the reasons we found out about that one before the Blackhawks announced it was because there was some talk here about how this was a big deal. This is a precedent-setting deal,” Friedman said.