On Rasmus Ristolainen and Hampus Lindholm …
Bob McKenzie: Rasmus Ristolainen (Sabres), Hampus Lindholm (Ducks) and may be Jacob Trouba (‘x’ team) have a similar dynamic in terms of the gap between the player and the team.
Bob McKenzie: The Sabres and Ducks are using Morgan Rielly’s six-year deal at $5 million per deal and Seth Jones’ six-years and $5.4 million deal as comparables. Teams are hoping to get them in signed in that range.
Bob McKenzie: Ristolainen and Lindholm are looking at Aaron Ekblad’s eight-year at $7.5 million per season. It’s not say they expect that, but they are aiming for $6 plus million, may be $6.5 million.
Bob McKenzie: So both Ristolainen and Lindholm are likely a $1 million plus apart.
Bob McKenzie: Dougie Hamilton and his six-year deal at $5.75 million is another comparable. Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s contract is a little older and is at $5.5 million per.
Bob McKenzie: It’s safe to say that the RFA defensemen don’t like Morgan Rielly’s and Seth Jones’ contracts, the teams don’t like Aaron Ekblad’s deal.
Chris Nichols of Today’s Slapshot: Bob McKenzie on TSN 1050 on the contract status of Buffalo Sabres RFA Rasmus Ristolainen and Anaheim Ducks RFA Hampus Lindholm.
“Right now, the reason Rasmus Ristolainen in Buffalo and Hampus Lindholm in Anaheim – and we’ll see what happens with Trouba on the contract front, not the trade front – the reason why those guys right now aren’t signed is because Buffalo and Anaheim are saying, ‘Morgan Rielly is making $5 million for the next six years. Seth Jones is making 5.4 for the next six years. So we’re not giving you more than those guys.’
“And those other guys are saying, ‘Okay, we know that the Aaron Ekblad deal at eight years X 7.5 in Florida might be a bit of an outlier compared to all of the other young defensemen coming out of entry level; but 7.5 to him, it’s a comparable. So if we’re not at 7.5, we should be at 6, 6.5.’
“So that’s where the battle lines are drawn for Rasmus Ristolainen and Hampus Lindholm, vis-a-vis the comparables of Rielly, Jones at one end, (and) maybe Dougie Hamilton at 5.75 – or Aaron Ekblad at the high end.”
