NHL Rumor Roundup: A Thin UFA Market Could Enable RFAs To Cash In Big This Summer

Given their value to their respective teams, they're expected to be re-signed. Nevertheless, TSN's Chris Johnston thinks those players could be deliberately holding off to see what the market looks like this summer. He also believes they wouldn't mind if a younger star, such as Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks, signed an extension this summer that sets the market for them.

Felix Sicard of the Crash the Pond podcast told Daily Faceoff that he believes Carlsson and Gauthier could each get between $9 million and $10 million annually.

Fantilli could get a similar amount to Carlsson and Gauthier. Bedard's status as the Blackhawks' franchise player could push his next average annual value to over $12 million.

Those numbers, however, could go higher if Celebrini gets an average annual value of $15 million or higher.

This summer's NHL UFA pool is a shallow one, meaning RFAs such as the Blackhawks' Connor Bedard, the Ducks' Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier, and the Blue Jackets' Adam Fantilli could end up getting significant raises.

thehockeynews.comNHL Rumor Roundup: A Thin UFA Market Could Enable RFAs To Cash In Big This SummerThis summer's NHL UFA pool is a shallow one, meaning RFAs such as the Blackhawks' Connor Bedard, the Ducks' Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier, and the Blue Jackets' Adam Fantilli could end up getting significant raises.

Drop a comment and share your perspective.