After analyzing the more questionable RFA deals of the offseason, it's time to shift the magnifying glass to a few contracts that deserve their place in the sun. The recent extensions that will be elaborated upon fulfill the criteria of offering a young and developing player an appropriate salary, fixed accordingly to their market value, that additionally provides a team with salary cap flexibility. To clarify, not every contract needs to be a team-friendly deal, but a contract must be reasonable for both parties.
1. Jack Quinn, a northern light for upstate New York
The 23-year-old forward was extended to a 2-year deal, with a $3.375 million AAV, on June 27th, 2025. Quinn has a market value of $4.1 million, which indicates a surplus of $725,000. The extension is at the top of this list due to Quinn’s performance on a lackluster Buffalo team in which he plays a role in its middle-six forward group. It would be unfair to say that Buffalo is a team that lacks talent; that would objectively be false due to the burgeoning young talent that occupies this roster. Quinn, however, has been a bright spot on a team that is still figuring out its identity and trajectory in an unforgiving league.
Quinn is a two-way, heavy-shooting, and versatile winger that was extended to a relatively team-friendly contract. The forward has proven to be a flexible player on an unstable Buffalo roster, in which he posted 15 goals and 24 assists for 39 points in 74 games. What’s truly impressive about this young forward is his consistency and capability to continuously improve.
In his first year in the NHL, Quinn managed to produce 14 goals and 23 assists, for 37 goals in 75 games. The following year, after missing 32 games due to an injury to his achilles tendon, Quinn scored 9 goals and 10 assists for 19 points in 27 games before aggravating his previous injury, which ended his season. The right-handed shot has continuously produced on a team that has been struggling to maintain consistent success, which displays his status as a bright spot for a franchise that is continuing on its 14-year dark age.
2. Simon Holmstrom, the Swedish Sniper
The Swedish forward has been a rising star for the New York Islanders and a success story for a franchise that has received scrutiny for their development program. Holmstrom was recently extended to a two-year contract, with a $3.65 AAV, on July 1st, 2025. The right-winger has a market value of $4.8 million, which suggests the Islanders received a $1.15 million surplus in his new contract. This bridge deal is an outstanding piece of work for a winger that has remained consistent in his development and growth to becoming a potential top-six forward for the Islanders.
Simon Holmstrom is a versatile, two-way sniper that plays many roles on the Islanders’ roster. The Swedish forward has contributed to the Islanders on special teams, especially on the penalty kill where he has produced numerous short-handed goals, and thrives in the attacking zone. Holmstrom posted a career high this past year with 20 goals and 25 assists, for 45 points in 75 games.
After a turbulent first year in the NHL during the 2022-2023 season, where he posted 6 goals and 3 assists for 9 points in 50 games (where he was subsequently returned to the AHL), Holmstrom has continuously reminded the Islanders that he belongs in the NHL by maintaining a consistent upward developmental trajectory. The following year, Holmstrom scored 15 points and 10 assists for 25 points in 75 games as part of an Islanders’ roster plagued with injuries.
Holmstrom has demonstrated that he can shine even when times get tough for the rest of the team. With his career best (so far) in the books, Holmstrom has repeatedly illustrated that he is a player that can navigate the lineup, the special teams, and continue to produce at the highest level.
3. Will Cuylle, Broadway dreams
The New York Rangers are undergoing a strange period in their history. With an aging core, the Rangers have continuously searched for young stars to pass the torch to. With college stars such as Gabe Perreault finding themselves being thrown into the lineup, Will Cuylle is a young and burgeoning star that should receive credit for making a statement that he can be apart of a critical part of the New York Rangers’ next chapter.
The young forward began on the Rangers’ bottom six but contributed in the demeanor of a middle-six forward. During his full year in the NHL, Cuylle posted 13 goals and 8 assists for 21 points in 81 games during the 2023-2024 season, where the Rangers were defeated in the Eastern Conference Finals by the eventual Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers.
This past season, while the Rangers had their most turbulent season yet, where they missed the playoffs, Cuylle scored 20 goals and 25 assists for 45 points in 82 games. His best statistical year has earned him a 2-year extension, with a $3.9 million AAV, on July 1st, 2025. The left-winger currently has a market value of $4.7 million, which results in a $800,000 surplus for the blue shirts.
At the begginning of the offseason, the Rangers hired Mike Sullivan to replace their former head coach, Peter Laviolette, which indicates that the Rangers will continue to compete for the Stanley Cup with their current roster. This is splendid news for their aging yet productive core of Artemi Panarin, J.T. Miller, and Mika Zibanejad. However, it should be noted that the Rangers have a robust and young future currently developing in the NHL with Alexis Lafrenière, Gabe Perreault, and, of course, Will Cuylle. The young forward is projected to play a massive role in the future of their franchise for years to come.