Restricted Free Agents Still Looking For a Contract

Restricted Free Agents Still Looking For a Contract: Latest News/Updates

Cross Ottawa Senators D Cody Ceci off the list of restricted free agents still looking for a contract. He signed a two-year $5.6 million dollar ($2.8M/yr) bridge deal on Tuesday in hopes of cashing in a couple of years down the road.

Still, we have numerous players yet to sign with training camps and the World Cup of Hockey just around the corner. Those such as Buffalo Sabres D Rasmus Ristolainen, Calgary Flames F Johnny Gaudreau, Winnipeg Jets D Jacob Trouba, Arizona Coyotes F Tobias Rieder, Washington Capitals D Dmitry Orlov, and Tampa Bay Lightning F Nikita Kucherov only have a couple of weeks to hammer out a new deal with the WCOH pre-tournament schedule set to begin. Any negotiations during the event is highly unlikely. If a deal cannot be worked out, teams will be scrambling to sign these restricted free agents in preseason.

There was concern heading into the World Cup of Hockey regarding insurance for players who remain unsigned. TSN‘s Gary Lawless was the first to confirm in Early August that those individuals would indeed be covered regardless.

Restricted Free Agents: News/Updates

Dmitry Orlov, Washington Capitals

via Isabelle Khurshudyan (Washington Post),

“With Dmitry Orlov’s contract negotiations now stretching well into August, his agent, Mark Gandler, confirmed that Orlov will represent Team Russia at the World Cup of Hockey in September, even if he’s still unsigned. Gandler also reiterated that talks between the Washington Capitals and the restricted free-agent defenseman’s camp are ongoing.”

“Expect Orlov to get a bridge deal with a one- or two-year term. Gandler has declined to comment on negotiations beyond saying that both sides are talking and it’s a normal process. With Washington re-signing Marcus Johansson to a three-year, $13.75 million deal with an average annual value of $4.583 million, there’s limited salary cap space left for Orlov. According to generalfanager.com, the Capitals have $3.45 million left in salary cap space, but that can’t all be dedicated to Orlov, as Washington will need at least $875,000 for a 14th forward and roster flexibility.”

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Rasmus Ristolainen and Zemgus Girgensons, Buffalo Sabres

via Chris Nichols (Today’s Slapshot),

“I stopped in the office this morning and talked to (assistant general manager) Mark Jakubowski ,” he continued. “Certainly I’ve read social media. I’ve read the things about Risto and Zemgus and their contract situation. I think it’s a normal talking right now between the two groups, between both Rasmus and Zemgus. Those are things that I don’t get too much involved in. But I know they’re progressing. I know we’re talking. They do take time.”

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Valeri Nichushkin, Dallas Stars

via Brett Finger (The Hockey Writers),

“The Dallas Stars are in active negotiations with restricted free agent forward Valeri Nichushkin, according to the club’s general manager Jim Nill.”

“We’ve talked to his agent. We’ve exchanged offers and just going through the process.”

“Being that Nichushkin is a Russian forward, questions have come up about his potential willingness to head to the KHL, but Nill doesn’t think that’s the issue.”

“No, I don’t think so,” Nill said to Dallas News’ Sports Day. “Val’s over here training and I don’t think there’s that issue. Val wants to be in the NHL and he wants to have a good year this year, so I don’t think that’s possible.”

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Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames

via My NHL Trade Rumors,

Friedman thinks that Calgary Flames would like to get Johnny Gaudreau signed to something similar to Sean Monahan. Gaudreau’s offensive numbers will probably put him at a higher number.

“So I think he’s looking higher. I think he’s looking for term. I think the team is looking for term. I think what Gaudreau is probably saying is, ‘Well, if you want to do term, it’s got to be a pretty big number.’ I think they’ve talked a little bit in the last couple of days since Monahan was signed. Nobody is really discussing it, but I’ve got no information that anything is really close.”

It was also reported by Sportsnet that Johnny Gaudreau made it clear he will not negotiate during the World Cup of Hockey in September.

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Rickard Rakell and Hampus Lindholm, Anaheim Ducks

via My NHL Trade Rumors,

The Anaheim Ducks still have two restricted free agents they need to sign – Hampus Lindholm and Rickard Rakell. Friedman is surprised that Rakell hasn’t been signed by now. Friedman on Lindholm.

“The Lindholm one, I’ve heard for a while now that that one was tricky. And that there were a lot of different variables there, including a change in agent that we saw last season. They were able to get one of those deals done with the change of agent, but it ended up being a trade to Toronto, right? Frederik Andersen. So I think it says to me that they’re still having a lot of issues trying to pull it down. And again, at this point in time, I’ve got no information that anything is close.”

Rakell is set to replace Alex Steen on Team Sweden at the upcoming World Cup of Hockey next month.

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Jacob Trouba, Winnipeg Jets

via Peter Tessier (Hockey Buzz),

Sure there are things to be done, but for all intensive purposes there’s nothing going on with the team and that apparently includes a contract for Jacob Trouba.

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Ryan Strome and Kirill Petrov, New York Islanders

via Dan Saraceni (Lighthouse Hockey),

The situation is very reminiscent of another recent Islanders restricted free agent – Brock Nelson – who last year also turned down his qualifying offer before signing a three-year, $7.5 million ($2.5 million AAV) deal on the eve of training camp. At the time, Nelson ran the risk of sitting out the entire season as punishment for not signing before camp, a longstanding team rule under then-owner Charles Wang. According to some very worrying reports, Nelson’s agent and Islanders GM Garth Snow didn’t talk for weeks.

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Mr.Saraceni makes a very interesting point. With the shift in ownership making Charles Wang a minority owner, players/agents must no longer worry about the risk of sitting out a season.

There are also rumblings of potential trade rumors surrounding Ryan Strome after a disappointing 2015-16 campaign, but it seems unlikely at this point.

As for Kirill Petrov, there is little surprise among the majority of fans that he remains unsigned.

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Tobias Rieder, Arizona Coyotes

via Sarah McLellan (Twitter),

“It’s status quo for the most part. We continue to talk about things. Tobi’s a good player. He’s a player that we like a lot. He’s a guy that we kind of grabbed from Edmonton, of course, developed him, worked with him. I know he’s well-liked by his coaching staff and his teammates and we think the right place for him is Arizona, and I think our offers have been consistent with that in valuing him highly, as well, and we hope that we can come to an agreement that can have Tobi in camp because I think that’s the best place for him short-term and long-term and obviously the best thing for our team, as well. He’s an important piece of what we’re doing here and hope to have something done.”

Nikita Kucherov and Nikita Nesterov, Tampa Bay Lightning

via My NHL Trade Rumors,

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Friedman says that things are very quiet with regards to Nikita Kucherov and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Kucherov’s agent Scott Greenspun isn’t saying much and he knows that leaking info isn’t a good idea when dealing with GM Steve Yzerman.

“I think what you’ve got there is you’ve got a situation where Tampa’s unrestricted free agents to be, Stamkos and Hedman, have kind of set the high bar. I’m really curious to see how close Tampa is going to get to that if they want to go long-term with Kucherov. I think he’s a guy who you’re looking at when he hits unrestricted free agency, he’s going to have a big number. I think Tampa is going to do with him the same thing they kind of did with Hedman and Stamkos. They’re going to say, ‘Look, this is where we’re looking at and this is where it’s going to be.’ I just think one thing they’ve proven is that’s the way they’re going to go, and that’s the way it’s going to be for Kucherov at this particular time.”

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Ryan Sproul, Detroit Red Wings

via Ansar Khan (MLive),

The Red Wings and RFA defenseman Ryan Sproul are expected to get a one-year contract done before the start of training camp. Sproul is no longer waiver exempt and would require passing through waivers to be sent to the AHL.