The new collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and NHL Players\u2019 Association kicks in at midnight ET on Tuesday night\/Wednesday morning, so the clock is ticking on getting eight-year extensions done before the limit becomes seven for re-signing players.<\/p>\n
But just as significant is that the new CBA will limit how front-loaded contracts can be and how signing-bonus money can be structured. That seems to be the part that\u2019s creating momentum in negotiations between Cutter Gauthier and the Anaheim Ducks.<\/p>\n
The positive news on Monday is that there\u2019s been progress and substantive talks on Gauthier, who\u2019s a restricted free agent. Nothing is done until it\u2019s done, but the sides are determined to get it across the finish line. The sides met over the weekend, and the dialogue was slated to continue Monday.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m not 100 percent sure, but I think it will land as a six-year deal if it gets done. I\u2019m also not sure if Gauthier will get Connor Bedard\u2019s $15 million per year, but something in the $13 million to $14 million range wouldn\u2019t surprise me.<\/p>\n
There will be relief, to be sure, for the Ducks if and when this deal gets done. There\u2019s been a lot of drama in the wake of the stunning offer sheet Leo Carlsson signed with the Philadelphia Flyers, which was matched by the Ducks, and some deserved criticism of how it was handled by Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek.<\/p>\n
But I also think it needs to be said that Verbeek did make offers last fall early in the season to Carlsson and Gauthier. Obviously they didn\u2019t lead to extensions, but it\u2019s not as if Anaheim had decided not to negotiate ahead of time with those two very important young stars. The agents for the players \u2014 Matt Keator for Carlsson and Kurt Overhardt for Gauthier \u2014 were clever in deciding to wait. That\u2019s for sure.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what else I\u2019m hearing Monday from league sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss negotiations that aren\u2019t public.<\/p>\n
Which next gen superstars jumped the highest in the NHL player tiers?<\/p>\n
Fantilli talks \u2018very slow\u2019<\/p>\n
Sticking with young star RFAs, Adam Fantilli remained unsigned Monday ahead of Blue Jackets camp opening this week. The sides continue to talk, which is good, but there\u2019s a sizeable gap to overcome. \u201cVery slow\u201d was how one source described things.<\/p>\n
That negotiation needs a positive uptick. The slowness certainly hasn\u2019t been for a lack of effort from either side this summer. There have been offers and counter-offers, but they\u2019re just not there yet.<\/p>\n