Cutter Gauthier and Adam Fantilli's contract standoffs just got a fresh explanation, straight from one of the league's most connected reporters.
Elliotte Friedman said this week both the Anaheim Ducks and Columbus Blue Jackets are adjusting their approach based on what's happened elsewhere in the league.
"I think both the Ducks and the Blue Jackets are in a position where they're saying alright, we have to adjust based on what happened in this league," Friedman said on 32 Thoughts.
The comment comes after negotiations for both restricted free agents reportedly stalled following a massive offer sheet to Leo Carlsson in July.
Gauthier just finished a breakout season for Anaheim, posting 69 points in 76 games with 41 goals and 11 power play goals.
Fantilli, meanwhile, put up 59 points in 82 games for Columbus, including 24 goals and nine power play assists.
Elliotte Friedman: Re Cutter Gauthier/Adam Fantilli negotiations: I think both the Ducks and the Blue Jackets are in a position where they're saying alright, we have to adjust based on what happened in this league - 32 Thoughts (8/25)
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NHLRR: The Gauthier and Fantilli RFA negotiations appeared to stall following the massive 18 million AAV offer sheet to RFA Leo Carlsson in July
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Elliotte Friedman reveals why Gauthier and Fantilli talks suddenly stalled
That $18,000,000 AAV offer sheet for Carlsson reset expectations across the league instantly. Every RFA negotiation involving a young star now gets measured against that number.
Pat Verbeek and Don Waddell suddenly find themselves negotiating against a market that shifted under their feet mid-summer.
Gauthier carries just a $950,000 cap hit right now, a number that has nowhere to go but up significantly once a new deal lands.
Fantilli sits at the exact same $950,000 figure, making both situations mirror images of each other heading into a crowded RFA market.
Anaheim finished last season 43-33-6, good for 92 points and real momentum building under Joel Quenneville's staff.
Columbus closed out with a 59-point season from Fantilli but faces its own pressure to lock up a young center before things drag further into the offseason.
Friedman's comments suggest both front offices are recalibrating rather than digging in, which could actually speed things up rather than slow them down.
Whether either team lands closer to market value or gets forced into a Carlsson-style number remains the only piece nobody's confirmed yet.
Did the Leo Carlsson offer sheet break the RFA market for young stars?
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