5 Restricted Free Agents Still Unsigned With Camp Approaching

Training camp is about a month away, and 18 restricted free agents remain unsigned around the league. 

Per Daily Faceoff, the Philadelphia Flyers' offer sheet for Leo Carlsson back in July "chucked a grenade" into the RFA market, resetting price expectations across the board and complicating negotiations that teams had budgeted for well before that number existed. 

Here are the five names left on the market who stand out above the rest.

The Two Names With Real Offer-Sheet Leverage

Alexander Nikishin of the Carolina Hurricanes tops the list, and his case is unlike anyone else's. It took him just 102 total NHL games to become a Stanley Cup champion, finishing seventh in Calder Trophy voting along the way despite playing a largely sheltered bottom-pairing role. 

Carolina has $9.88 million in projected cap space, but Nikishin is reportedly asking for $8 million annually, a number the Hurricanes appear hesitant to commit to given some lingering concerns about his decision-making and how he'll handle tougher matchups going forward.

Adam Fantilli of the Columbus Blue Jackets is the other name teams are watching closely for a potential offer sheet. 

The 21-year-old center posted a career-high 59 points last season and has 140 points through 213 career games as the third overall pick from 2023.

The Three Others Reshaping Their Markets

Cutter Gauthier of the Anaheim Ducks set new career highs across the board last season with 41 goals, 28 assists, and 69 points, adding 12 points in 12 playoff games. 

Unlike Fantilli, Gauthier doesn't have the three years of NHL service time required to be offer-sheet eligible, which removes any outside pressure on Anaheim and lets the Ducks negotiate without a deadline, even as Gauthier leans on the Carlsson comparison to justify his own asking price.

Simon Edvinsson of the Detroit Red Wings and Zachary Bolduc of the Montreal Canadiens round out the group. Bolduc in particular has quietly become one of the better value additions of last offseason, posting 30 points in 78 games for Montreal after arriving in a trade.

Carlsson's $18 million annual value, the richest deal in the NHL before Macklin Celebrini's, reshaped what every young, productive RFA and their camp now believes they're worth, and it's forcing teams that budgeted for a very different market back in June to recalculate on the fly.