3 Upcoming RFAs Raising Their Stock In Playoffs

There are a lot of good RFAs this summer, but so many of them this season are on teams that didn't make the playoffs. Of the ones that did, there have been some standouts and these three players are making a good case for a bigger payday...or even an offer sheet.

Evan Bouchard

Evan Bouchard is second all-time among defensemen in points-per-game in the playoffs behind only Bobby Orr. That says something, and it isn't just because the Edmonton Oilers have dominated the LA Kings offensively for four years in a row. Bouchard has been a huge difference maker offensively and even though his defensive game is lacking at times in the playoffs, he is without his regular partner in Mattias Ekholm. Bouchard has four goals and seven points in five games and his goals have come at key times.

Gage Goncalves

Gage Goncalves flew under the radar in Tampa Bay this season and is just one of the latest young players to come through the ranks and make an impact. The Lightning are now eliminated from the playoffs, but it wasn't without Goncalves making an impact alongside the big boys on the team. He finished his short first playoff run as a rookie with one goal and four points in five games. He also logged nearly 17 minutes per game, which was a huge uptick from 12:48 of ice time per game during the regular season where he was also a lot less productive offensively. It's not a big sample size, but the Lightning saw what they have in this 24-year-old and will want to get him signed for a number of years.

Matthew Knies

There has already been talk of Matthew Knies being a target by many for offer sheets and his play in the playoffs only adds to that. Teams see how he can play during the regular season, but he hasn't taken shifts or games off in this first round this year for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Knies has three goals in five games and some hits, but his impact goes further than that. His game is built for the playoffs and it's showing.