As we continue to get closer to training camp, certain teams are still scrambling to sign their Restricted Free Agents (RFAs). It is nearly September, yet there are still a good amount of talented players who remain without a contract for next season. So what is the issue regarding the players who are still unsigned?
The biggest story regarding RFAs has been with the Detroit Red Wings. Despite nearly making the playoffs last season, General Manager Steve Yzerman has been on the hot seat considering the lack of consistency by this team. With questionable decisions in free agency for the last two summers, Yzerman will face much criticism if he fails to sign the Red Wings’ three RFAs before the start of the season. According to Puckpedia, the team has over $17 million of cap space so signing Lucas Raymond, Moritz Seider, and Jonathan Berggren should not be much of an issue, but the Red Wings seem to be taking their time with these signings. Although there have been reports regarding the progress being made in the Berggren negotiations, Raymond and Seider are reportedly not close to being signed. This news is devastating for the Red Wings considering those two players are important members of their core who have been key pieces of their roster since their rookie seasons. Raymond has been improving his game each season and had a fantastic end to last season playing on the top line. Seider came into the league by winning the Calder Trophy for best rookie of the year and has since been the team’s best defenseman. Having any of these players miss the start of the season will be a terrible look for Yzerman in this make-or-break season,
Another intriguing story has been Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman. The Bruins made a major gamble this offseason by trading Linus Ullmark to Ottawa only a season after he won the Vezina Trophy for best goaltender. This trade cemented Swayman as the Bruins’ clear-cut starter, but it may have been premature considering he remains without a contract. The Swayman camp has asked for a contract worth $10 million per season which is a very steep price for what the young netminder has proven so far. If this is an eight-year contract, such a high salary could be reasonable in a few years, but if this is a short-term deal that will walk Swayman right into unrestricted free agency, such a large cap hit is a lot to ask. Considering the Bruins' current starter is Jonas Korpisalo, Swayman and his agent hold all the leverage in these negotiations which may just result in the team giving in and signing him to the contract he is looking for.
Other, less high-profile, players such as Seth Jarvis, Nicholas Robertson, Thomas Harley, Dawson Mercer, and Cole Perfetti remain but most of these should have no problem signing before the start of training camp. Robertson is the most interesting story out of these considering he has requested a trade, but the Maple Leafs do not seem interested in moving him yet. Overall, there are still many talented players who remain unsigned and if their respective teams want to fulfill their playoff aspirations, they need to get these signings done and avoid having their stars sit out training camp or even regular season games.
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