Do the Calgary Flames have it in them to rebound from a playoff miss this upcoming season? Ryan Kennedy and Mike Stephens discuss. Jake Guentzel [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNzI0NDk4MjUxNTIzNDU4/usatsi_19751762_168400847_lowres.jpg] Jake Guentzel What do Calgary Flames center Elias Lindholm, Pittsburgh Penguins winger Jake Guentzel and Boston Bruins winger Jake DeBrusk have in common? Apart from being forwards, they're slated to become UFAs next summer. While training camps for the coming season have yet to open, that hasn't stopped some pundits from pondering how much that trio could get on their next contracts, either with their current clubs or as free agents. Lindholm drew considerable attention [https://thehockeynews.com/news/the-calgary-flames-are-no-closer-to-trading-noah-hanifin] during this off-season. After weeks of silence amid speculation over his intentions, the 28-year-old center indicated he's open to re-signing with the Flames [https://calgarysun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/calgary-flames/flames-centre-elias-lindholm-tells-swedish-outlet-he-is-willing-to-stay-in-calgary]. During his Sept. 4 32 Thoughts podcast, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman [https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1698686726900691423] acknowledged Lindholm's remarks but pointed out negotiations had been quiet between the two sides. He anticipated those discussions would pick up as the season approached. Appearing on the NHL Network, Friedman [https://twitter.com/NHL_Watcher/status/1699485445862699120?s=20] said he thought Bo Horvat's eight-year contract, with its $8.5-million average annual value with the New York Islanders, would be the comparable deal for Lindholm. However, he's heard the AAV could be between $8.75 million to $9 million. Turning to Guentzel, he's in the final season of a five-year deal earning $6 million annually. THN Pittsburgh's Jacob Punturi [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/pens-talk/auston-matthews-contract-jake-guentzel-pittsburgh-penguins] believes the 29-year-old left winger could justify a raise to an annual cap hit of $10 million after being the Penguins' leading goal-scorer over the past five seasons [https://www.nhl.com/stats/skaters?reportType=season&seasonFrom=20182019&seasonTo=20222023&gameType=2&playerPlayedFor=franchise.17&filter=gamesPlayed,gte,1&sort=goals&page=0&pageSize=50]. However, they might not pay him more than the $8.7-million cap hit earned by Penguins captain Sidney Crosby. As for DeBrusk, Boston Hockey Now's Jimmy Murphy [https://bostonhockeynow.com/2023/08/30/boston-bruins-jake-debrusk-on-contract-im-hoping-to-stay/] observed the 26-year-old Bruins winger is earning $4 million annually on his two-year deal. He thinks DeBrusk could seek something similar to the eight-year deal ($6.5 million annually) that Brandon Hagel signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
