Now that Brayden Schenn has avoided arbitration and signed a multi-year deal with the Flyers, the final numbers are on the table for those RFA's that are likely to be used as comparables to Mike Hoffman.


There are 7 notable contracts that I will throw out there, all signed within the last month or so:

Jaden Schwartz (24 yrs old) 5 years, $5.35M AAV
Alex Killorn (26) 7 yrs, $4.45M AAV
Marcus Johansson (25) 3 yrs, $4.583M AAV
Chris Kreider (25) 4 yrs, $4.625M AAV
Brayden Schenn (24) 4 yrs, $5.125M AAV
Kyle Palmeiri (25) 5 yrs, $4.625M AAV
Reilly Smith (25*) 5 yrs, $5.00M AAV (*extension begins in 2017-18 season)

So that is certainly the launching point that the Senators and Hoffman can continue to negotiate from.

From the outside, it is impossible to tell if any progress is really being made, and if they are getting any closer to getting a name on the dotted line, or even where each side is with regard to term and salary.

But from that list, if I were the Senators and were offered each of those players listed above straight up for Hoffman, all other things being equal, the only one I would have no trouble dealing Hoffman for would be Schwartz. Every other name on that list I would flat out turn down or have to really think about.

That isn't a slight on those players, they all bring different assets and types of game. If you were on the other side, I would expect you to feel the same way about your player in the same instance, but Hoffman has proven his value as an offensive threat now for 2 seasons with the Senators and the marketplace value has been set.

Hoffman, being the last to go, is smiling a bit more because with each contract that comes with term, is another potential name off the list next summer when he could become a UFA if this goes to the arbitrator's decision. As I said over the past week, the pickings are slim next year in terms of quality under-30 UFA's and Hoffman has to be going into this process knowing that if he waits a year, he will cash in big time. So no doubt he is probably holding a little firmer and you can't really blame him. Anything more than a 1 year deal will have come at a premium for the Senators so they can buy some of those high-earning years from Hoffman.

That is not to say that Hoffman should be holding onto Jamie Benn-type money, but he certainly sees what the market is at and knows where he should be in the pecking order. Pierre Dorion's job is to try to get the best deal possible for his club and spend responsibly in doing so.

I know these are sounding like a broken record. But with each domino that has fallen there is another spin that either side can put on it. But now, there is not going to be any more data or information, no more real comparables to come in this arbitration season, so its time to lock the two sides in a room and not let them come out until a deal is reached.

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