NHL Free Agency is still underway, but attention will turn to restricted free agents and when they will sign their extensions or go to arbitration. While earlier rumors have been quiet, people are starting to talk about the 2025 unrestricted free agency.
Especially Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Mitch Marner of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers. But you have to throw in Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers.
NHL Rumors: Plenty of Time Left in the Summer for Leon Draisaitl to Sign Extension
Other notable players eligible for an extension are Maple Leafs captain John Tavares, newly acquired Ottawa goaltender Linus Ullmark, Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser, Mikko Rantanen of the Colorado Avalanche, and Stanley Cup Champion Florida defenseman Aaron Ekblad.
All of these players were eligible to sign extensions on July 1. No extensions have been announced. However, Crosby, Marner, and Draisaitl have been the focus of more attention than the second group of players.
As NHL rumors go, Crosby and the Penguins are closing in on an extension. According to Rob Rossi of The Athletic, the report states that Crosby and the Penguins have a three-year contract that pays Crosby $10 million per season. But this is yet to be signed.
NHL Rumors: Penguins Want To Build Around Sidney Crosby For Another Run
These players don't have to sign their extensions as soon as they go into their final contract year. Last year, for example, Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power's extensions weren't signed until the first day of training camp for the Buffalo Sabers. Therefore, these players, agents, and teams are taking their time regarding extensions.
Just look at William Nylander last year with the Toronto Maple Leafs and David Pastrnak the year before with the Boston Bruins. Pastrnak didn't sign his extension for more than half of the Bruins' historic season. The Trade Deadline was approaching that year. Nylander only signed his own in January. So, there is no rush to do these.
These extensions seem to be a hot topic of conversation, especially in Edmonton and Toronto.
Marner is entering the final year of his contract with the Maple Leafs, carrying an estimated salary of $10.9 million. He seems to be a lightning rod for those in Toronto. Changes must happen; with Auston Matthews and Nylander having new contracts and John Tavares going nowhere, Marner seemed to be the guy the team wanted to move.
NHL Rumors: Trending For Mitch Marner To Return With Toronto Maple Leafs
You have an immobility clause, so you control where and when you want to go. He doesn't want to go right now, but we don't know about the extension talks so far. That could change, but it appears that Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving isn't prioritizing Marner like he did with Matthews last year.
But with all the talk of change in Toronto, they bring it back and this context, even though it doesn't work.
As for Draisaitl, he is entering the final year of his $8.5 million cap hit deal with the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers recently reached the Stanley Cup Finals and fell one game short of winning the Stanley Cup.
We know that Connor McDavid will be a free agent in 2026 and is eligible for an extension on July 1, 2025. There is talk that Draisaitl and McDavid could reset the market to become the highest paid players in the League.
But as Draisaitl noted after the Oilers' season ended, the stakeholders must find what they want.
NHL Rumors: When Will Leon Draisaitl Sign?
“It's going to take a little bit of time to figure out what I want, what the Oilers want, and what everybody else wants, and then I'll go from there,” Draisaitl said in a press conference Wednesday. “I love being an Oiler more than anything.”
Adding fuel to the fire is Leon Draisaitl's agent, Jiri Poner, who said, “There is no rush, but it happens as soon as the end of August or it doesn't work out.” It will be clear whether Edmonton wants him or not. Leon holds all the trump cards.”
The Oilers want to keep Leon Draisaitl long-term. It makes a lot of sense. Edmonton brought back the same team and some new additions to make another run at the Stanley Cup. Draisaitl will be paid by the Oilers or any team that wants him. It comes down to whether he believes he can win in Edmonton.
Everyone thought that Steven Stamkos would spend life in prison in Tampa Bay, which did not happen. He was upset that no extension talks took place last summer, severing the club's relationship with Stamkos. It sounds like Crosby and Draisaitl are staying, but anything is possible.
The relationship between Tampa Bay and Steven Stamkos broke down last summer
Marner feels like the odd man out in Toronto, but then again, with the Maple Leafs, you never know.
As for Igor Shesterkin in New York, he wants to be the highest paid goaltender in the NHL. The question for Rangers GM Chris Drury is whether he wants to pay a goaltender long term to be an $11 million or $12 million guy. It was quiet there, that's for sure.
To quote Reggie Jackson, Shesterkin is “the grass that refreshes the drink” with the Rangers. Without his performance, the Rangers would not have reached the Eastern Conference Finals and Game 6 against the Florida Panthers.
NHL Rumors: Will Igor Shesterkin Be the Highest Paid Goaltender in the NHL?
Again, this deal doesn't need to be done now, but thankfully, it's quiet there, given that he's been eligible to sign an extension since July 1.
Every situation and every player is different. Others want immediate safety and security, knowing that their future is secure. See what the Lightning did last year with Mikhail Sergachev in 2022, Anthony Cirelli, Brayden Point, and Erik Cernak last season, and Victor Hedman this offseason.
However, Lightning GM Julien BriseBois traded Sergachev to Utah before the trade went through to clear cap space, so Sergachev's future was less secure in Tampa.
Others want to gamble and play out a season before signing an extension with their current team. Sometimes, a player has to realize his potential before closing a long-term deal in just one city.
Only time will tell what Sidney Crosby, Leon Draisaitl, Mitch Marner, Igor Shesterkin, and their clubs decide to do.
As we get closer to the start of the season, some of the names on the list will also stand out.
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