NHL Salary Arbitration Hearings Set for Restricted Free Agents

NHL Salary Arbitration Hearings Set for 22 Remaining Restricted Free Agents

NHL salary arbitration hearings are officially set for 22 remaining restricted free agents, and will take place in Toronto, Ontario from July 20th to August 4th.

Last week, 24 players filed for arbitration, with one club elected nomination (Petr Mrazek, Detroit Red Wings).

For those unfamiliar with the process, we typically see this range/number of players to begin with. By the time the dust settles, the NHL will be lucky to conduct a handful of actual hearings. For example, only three players made it that far in 2015 (Mike Hoffman, Marcus Johansson, and Alex Chiasson).

There’s an inherent risk for both sides in allowing the process to reach an arbitrator. At that point, both parties make their arguments (sometimes difficult to hear for a player), and someone goes home unhappy.

These situations can sometimes pave the way for a near future trade, or cause tension that forces the player to walk first opportunity as a UFA.

For the majority of these players, deals should be easily achievable. Perhaps it’s a small difference of opinion in salary or term, at which point both parties find a way to compromise and meet somewhere in the middle. Agents/or teams use the extra time as strategy to either squeeze out a little extra money for their client, or save a couple hundred thousand dollars on the cap.

NHL Salary Arbitration Hearings Schedule for Remaining RFAs

July 20th

May 19, 2016; San Jose, CA, USA; St. Louis Blues left wing Jaden Schwartz (17) shoots the puck against the San Jose Sharks during the first period in game three of the Western Conference Final of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports /

Jaden Schwartz, St.Louis Blues
(2015-16 salary: $2.7 million dollars)

Alex Killorn, Tampa Bay Lightning
(2015-16 salary: $2.7 million dollars)

Marcus Johansson, Washington Capitals
(2015-16 salary: $1.45 million dollars)

July 21st

Dylan McIlrath, New York Rangers
(2015-16 salary: $600,000 dollars)

July 22nd

Mikhail Grigorenko, Colorado Avalanche
(2015-16 salary: $675,000 dollars)

Chris Kreider, New York Rangers
(2015-16 salary: $2.6 million dollars)

July 25th

Apr 24, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Flyers center Brayden Schenn (10) during the third period against the Washington Capitals in game six of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center. The Capitals won 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Derik Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

Brayden Schenn, Philadelphia Flyers
(2015-16 salary: $2.75 million dollars)

Peter Holland, Toronto Maple Leafs
(2015-16 salary: $1.45 million dollars)

July 26th

Frank Corrado, Toronto Maple Leafs
(2015-16 salary: $632,500 dollars)

July 27th

Petr Mrazek, Detroit Red Wings
(2015-16 salary: $737,500 dollars)

Jordan Schroeder, Minnesota Wild
(2015-16 salary: $600,000 dollars)

Kevin Hayes, New York Rangers
(2015-16 salary: $900,000 dollars)

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July 28th

Danny DeKeyser, Detroit Red Wings
(2015-16 salary: $2.25 million dollars)

July 29th

Tyson Barrie, Colorado Avalanche
(2015-16 salary: $3.2 million dollars)

Vladislav Namestnikov, Tampa Bay Lightning
(2015-16 salary: $874,125 dollars)

August 2nd

~~J.T. Miller, New York Rangers~~
~~(2015-16 salary: $874,000 dollars)~~
(07/13 Re-Signed Two Years $5.25 Million Total)

Brandon Manning, Philadelphia Flyers
(2015-16 salary: $625,000 dollars)

Martin Marincin, Toronto Maple Leafs
(2015-16 salary: $1.45 million dollars)