Several of the NHL’s top restricted free agents spent most of this summer unsigned by their current teams but with training camps set to open in less than two weeks, there appears to be progress on several fronts.
Last week saw three notable players re-signed to new deals. The Montreal Canadiens locked up goaltender Carey Price to a two-year, $5.5 million contract; Colorado Avalanche scoring winger Chris Stewart signed a two year deal worth $5.75 million; and center Sam Gagner inked a two-year, $4.55 million contract with the Edmonton Oilers.
Meanwhile, contract talks between the Anaheim Ducks and forward Bobby Ryan could be back on track after being stalled for much of the offseason. Agent Don Meehan recently told the Orange County Register discussions with Ducks management had resumed and were expected to continue this week.
Ducks fans know the sticking point between the two sides hasn’t been dollars but rather term, with the Ducks offering Ryan a five-year deal worth $5 million per season while Ryan wants a two-year deal as he believes his value will be higher in 2012.
Perhaps a suitable compromise might be a three-year contract, which would take Ryan up to eligibility for unrestricted free agency and allow the Ducks more time to not only evaluate his worth but also perhaps work toward re-signing him to a much longer deal.
Phoenix Coyotes winger Martin Hanzal also remains unsigned but that could soon change. Coyotes general manager Don Maloney last Friday told the Arizona Republic he expected the 23-year-old Hanzal to be re-signed prior to the start of training camp.
Atlanta Thrashers GM Rick Dudley recently re-upped center Bryan Little and has now shifted his focus toward winger Niclas Bergfors.
The 23-year-old Bergfors had 17 points in 27 games with the Thrashers following a midseason trade from the New Jersey Devils, seeming to regain the scoring touch in Atlanta that had deserted him in New Jersey.
Promising Nashville Predators blueliner Cody Franson recently told The Tennssean he remains confident about getting a new contract signed before his team’s training camp opens in mid-September.
While the aforementioned might be closing in on new contracts, the status of other notable restricted free agents remains murky.
Little has been reported this summer on the status of defenseman Marc Staal’s negotiations with the New York Rangers. His agent recently dismissed a report claiming the Staal camp hoped to receive an offer sheet to get the salary he wanted either from the Rangers or another club.
Rangers GM Glen Sather said earlier this summer he would match any offer sheet for Staal but at this point most teams have already committed the bulk of their available cap space for the upcoming season so there’s little chance he or any other restricted free agent would receive an offer sheet.
The lack of progress in the Dallas Stars negotiations with winger James Neal has made him the frequent subject this summer of trade rumors.
Neal, 23, is coming off a 27-goal, 55-point performance. The Dallas Morning News last week reported it’s believed the Stars offered Neal a two-year contract worth $2.5 million per season.
The paper also noted Neal has little leverage other than to stage a contract holdout, a tactic that has become a rarity under the NHL’s salary cap. Given the uncertainty over the Stars ownership situation, their depth on left wing and current tight budget Neal might have little choice but to settle for the Stars offer.
While the Avalanche re-signed one offensive forward in Stewart they have yet to get Peter Mueller under contract.
The 22-year-old Mueller struggled through most of last season with the Phoenix Coyotes (only 17 points in 54 games) but regained his offensive form after the Avalanche acquired him at the trade deadline, with 9 goals and 20 points in only 15 games until sidelined for the remainder of the season and playoffs with a concussion.
Concern over his health and his consistency are what’s likely taking so long to get a deal worked out.
Edmonton Oilers winger Andrew Cogliano has yet to be re-signed and he probably won’t get as much as Gagner in terms of dollars or contract length. After a promising 45-point rookie performance in 2007-08
Cogliano’s numbers and ice time have significantly declined.
Of course just because there’s been little or no real news about those players doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t be re-signed.
Given what little leverage most have it remains a strong possibility most if not all could be under contract before their team’s respective training camps open.
