Mitch Marner moves atop the list of pending UFA NHL forwards in 2025, but Igor Shesterkin and Mikko Rantanen could take advantage of Leon Draisaitl's new deal as well.
Igor Shesterkin and Mitch MarnerThe Edmonton Oilers set the hockey world abuzz on Tuesday by signing Leon Draisaitl to an eight-year contract extension worth $112 million. His $14-million average annual value will be the league's highest starting on July 1, 2025, barring any higher deals before then.
Draisaitl's new deal comes with its pros and cons, including the possibility of improving the odds of team captain Connor McDavid re-signing before his UFA eligibility in July 2026. The Edmonton Journal's David Staples cited Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli predicting McDavid's extension to be a “100 percent shot,” claiming there's no way Draisaitl would've re-upped if there was any chance McDavid wouldn't stay.
The 2025 NHL UFA market could also feel the effects of Draisaitl's new contract.
Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner moves atop the list of the NHL's best UFA forwards. Since his NHL debut in 2016-17, the 27-year-old sits 10th among all scorers with 639 points, closely behind such luminaries as Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand (640), teammate Auston Matthews (649) and Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (658).
The Toronto Sun's Steve Simmons believes Draisaitl's new deal won't affect the Leafs' negotiations with Marner. He thinks they'll wait and see how Marner performs under new coach Craig Berube and the outcome of this season. The Hockey News' Eric Cruikshank also said having a strong regular season and an even better playoffs is crucial as well.
Marner's current cap hit is $10.9 million. Simmons expects his next cap hit will exceed that number but fall under Draisaitl's league-leading cap hit. He also believes Marner will get more by staying in Toronto because the Leafs tend to overpay their players.
The Hockey News' David Alter thinks he'd likely get less than Matthews' $13.25-million cap hit as well but agreed the team should wait.
The Hockey News' Remy Mastey believes Draisaitl's contract could affect the Rangers' efforts to sign Igor Shesterkin to an extension. Winner of the 2022 Vezina Trophy, the 28-year-old goaltender carries a $5.67-million average annual value on his current deal.
Mastey reports Shesterkin wants to be the NHL's highest-paid goaltender, citing rumors he's seeking $12 million per season.
Colorado Hockey Now's Evan Rawal pondered the potential impact of Draisaitl's deal on an extension for Mikko Rantanen. Since his breakout 84-point performance in 2017-18, the 27-year-old Avalanche winger is eighth in total points with 579, one more than Marner and 10 more than Crosby.
Rawal felt Rantanen won't earn more than Nathan MacKinnon's team-leading $12.6-million AAV. He thinks the Avs would prefer using Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak's $11.25-million cap hit as a comparable but wouldn't be surprised if Rantanen received $12 million.
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