July is Contract Season
It’s July…contract season, baby. But what does that actually mean? Your team has UFAs, RFAs, and the media is buzzing about players going to arbitration. What does it all mean for your team or your favorite player? Let me break it down.
Let’s start with the team salary cap. The NHL is one of the four major sports leagues in North America and operates under a hard salary cap. That means every team works within the same maximum payroll, which is determined by a formula based on league revenue and other inputs. The cap system was implemented after the 2004–05 lockout from labor disputes. The only other major league with a hard cap is the NFL.
The NHL’s salary cap is rising over the next few seasons. For 2025–26, the cap will be $95.5 million, up from $88 million last season.
Free Agency 101
July 1 marked the start of free agency. There are two types of free agents in the NHL, depending on when a player’s contract expires:
· Restricted Free Agents (RFAs): These players still have rights owned by a specific team. Only that team can extend a contract offer (a.k.a. a contract extension), unless another team submits an offer sheet. If that happens, the current team has the option to match the contract and retain the player, or let them go and receive draft pick compensation based on the contract’s value.
· Unrestricted Free Agents (UFAs): These players are free to sign with any team, no strings attached. A player can also become a UFA if they go undrafted during their three years of draft eligibility.
So, What’s Arbitration?
Arbitration is a tool to settle contract disputes between RFAs and teams. Either party can file for arbitration (though teams can only file on two players per offseason). Once filed, a hearing date is set during a two-week window. However, both sides can continue to negotiate and reach a deal before the hearing, and often do. In 2021, every arbitration case settled before the hearing.
Important: once arbitration is filed, the player is no longer eligible to receive an offer sheet. Arbitration rulings result in either a one- or two-year contract, with the party who didn’t request arbitration choosing the term. If a player is only one year away from UFA status, the deal can only be for one year.
Who Filed for Arbitration in 2025?
Here’s a breakdown of the 11 players who filed:
Anaheim Ducks
· Lukas Dostal, G: Not sure why this even needs arbitration. With Gibson traded, Dostal is the starter. He played 54 games last season with a 3.29 GAA and .902 SV%. At just 25, the Ducks should want to lock him in.
· Drew Helleson, D: A 24-year-old rookie with 13 points in 56 games. Rumors say Anaheim will sign him to a one-year deal.
· Note: Mason McTavish is also an RFA but isn’t arbitration eligible yet.
Buffalo Sabres
· Bowen Byram, D (team-elected): The 24-year-old had a career year with 38 points while playing top-pair minutes alongside Rasmus Dahlin. He reportedly wants more power-play time (tough with Dahlin and Owen Power ahead of him) and a long-term extension. Several teams, including St. Louis, Calgary, and Vegas, have expressed trade interest.
· Conor Timmins, D: A 26-year-old puck mover who split last season between Toronto and Pittsburgh. Buffalo brought him in to strengthen their right side. Finished +9 in 68 games.
Chicago Blackhawks
· Arvid Soderblom, G: The 25-year-old Swedish netminder had a rough season statistically (10-18-7, .898 SV%), but the team around him was a mess. He’s trying to prove he can be their full-time starter.
Montreal Canadiens
· Jayden Struble, D: The Habs are currently over the cap by $5.42M and need to make space to sign Struble. The 23-year-old played 56 games last season with 13 points and a +2 rating. San Jose and Pittsburgh are rumored to be circling.
New York Islanders
· Maxim Tsyplakov, F: The 26-year-old arrived from the KHL in 2024 after scoring 31 goals there. He posted 35 points (10G, 25A) in 77 NHL games. He declined the Islanders’ $897,750 offer and headed to arbitration. New GM Mathieu Darche has some work to do.
Seattle Kraken
· Kaapo Kakko, F: Despite ongoing negotiation hiccups, I don’t see Seattle letting him walk. At 24, he put up 44 points (14G, 30A) in 79 games and plays with strong net-front presence and solid vision.
Toronto Maple Leafs
· Nicholas Robertson, F: At 23, Robertson wants a bigger role. He’s had five seasons in Toronto and still hasn’t cracked 70 games in a season (he hit 69 last year with 22 points). The Leafs say they want him to play a bigger offensive role, but actions speak louder, he was healthy scratched at times and only saw limited playoff minutes. Someone should trade for him and actually use him.
Utah Mammoth
· Jack McBain, F (team-elected; signed July 7: 5 years, $21.25M): Nothing left to say here. Utah got it done for a guy coming off a career-high 13 goals and 27 points in 82 games.
Winnipeg Jets
· Morgan Barron, F: The 26-year-old improved his two-way game but saw his offense dip. Eight goals, seven assists in 74 games. He’s a versatile fourth-liner and the Jets are reportedly working on a 2-year, $2M AAV deal.
· Dylan Samberg, D: A physical 26-year-old who paired well with Neal Pionk. Six goals, 14 assists in 60 games. A solid stay-at-home option.
· Gabriel Vilardi, F: The crown jewel here. The 25-year-old had a breakout season: 27 goals, 34 assists, 61 points in 71 games, mostly on the top line and power play. He wants term and money, projected worth is 4 years, $7.5M AAV.
Hope that clears some things up. Thanks for attending my little hockey summer school sesh. Until next time,
—Penalty Box Prose