A number of NHL forwards may be on the brink of signing their first big-ticket contracts this summer.
While eyes will almost certainly be on the unrestricted free-agent market, many high-end talents will hit restricted free agency. While offer sheets are seemingly a thing of the past, this season's top-10 restricted free agents at the very least make the idea worth pondering.
Here are those players:
Johnny Gaudreau
Johnny Gaudreau improved on his stellar rookie campaign, falling just one point shy of a point per game, with 78 points in 79 games. He hit the 30-goal mark for the first time in his career, while leading his club in the category.
He also proved his worth by leading the Calgary Flames with six game-winning goals, and paced the team in playoff scoring in 2014-15 with four goals and nine points in 11 games.
Nathan MacKinnon
The first overall pick in 2013 remains one of the most dynamic players in the league.
While Nathan MacKinnon's offensive output has dropped since his stellar rookie campaign, it's a trend the Colorado Avalanche have seen as a whole.
Colorado has seen its goals per game go from fourth in 2013-14 (2.99 G/PG) to 23rd in 2014-2015, and finished just 20th this season. That aside, MacKinnon remains one of the speediest forwards in the game, and boasts a wicked release.
Not to mention his 10 points in seven games in his lone taste of playoff hockey. He will be a cornerstone player with the club for years to come.
Mike Hoffman
After leading the Ottawa Senators with 27 goals in his first season, management signed Mike Hoffman to a prove-you-can-do-it-again contract last offseason - and he did.
For a second straight year, Hoffman paced the Senators with 29 goals while hitting a career-high 59 points. After making $2 million last season, the 26-year-old can expect a pay increase this time around.
Jaden Schwartz
Jaden Schwartz has gained the trust of the St. Louis Blues. General manager Doug Armstrong's reference to Schwartz's next contract as priority No.1 for the organization this summer suggests as much.
The 23-year-old was limited to just 33 games this season, but managed a respectable 22 points. However, he returned to his productive ways in the postseason, finishing tied for third on the team - one point behind Vladimir Tarasenko and Robby Fabbri - with 14 points.
He is also just one year removed from a career season that saw him post 28 goals and 63 points in 75 games.
Sean Monahan
Johnny Gaudreau isn't the only big fish the Flames will have to retain.
Sean Monahan also enters restricted free agency after netting a team-high 58 goals over the past two seasons.
The 21-year-old has made a seamless transition into the NHL since being drafted in the first round in 2013. He has scored no-fewer than 22 goals in each of his first three seasons. Don't be surprised if he's locked up long term.
Filip Forsberg
If the Washington Capitals could do things over, they would like to be the ones negotiating with Filip Forsberg on his next contract.
The Nashville Predators forward is coming off back-to-back seasons where he led his team in scoring, with 63 and 64 points respectively.
The 21-year-old turned in his first 30-goal campaign this season, pairing with teammate James Neal to be the first Predators since the 2009-10 season to hit the 30-goal plateau.
Nikita Kucherov
Nikita Kucherov's upcoming contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning could be what makes the club's attempt at retaining captain Steven Stamkos so difficult.
The 22-year-old made just over $700,000 in 2016, but after amassing a combined 41 points in 43 games over the last two postseasons, he is proving to be an incredible playoff performer. To help his cause, Kucherov also led the team in scoring this season, coming off his first 30-goal campaign.
The only argument likely to be used by the team to keep the money number low is his small sample size. He could also be prime offer-sheet material.
Kyle Palmieri
Kyle Palmieri might be the most worthy of pay increase on the list.
The 25-year-old, who had a cap hit of $1,466,666 in 2016, exploded in his first season with the New Jersey Devils. Palmieri scored more goals than his previous two seasons combined, lighting the lamp 30 times and amassing 57 points - 26 more than his previous career-high.
After finishing 30th with 2.22 goals per game this season, Palmieri's value to the Devils is unquestionably high.
Brayden Schenn
After managing just seven points through the first 18 games of the season, Brayden Schenn rallied to have a career-year in 2016.
The Philadelphia Flyers forward set career-highs in goals, assists, points, power-play goals, and power-play points. He had his second 20-goal campaign, finding the back of the net 26 times while adding 33 helpers.
If his value to the Flyers wasn't obvious, he also shared the team lead with five game-winning goals this season.
Mark Scheifele
The Winnipeg Jets are pleased to know that Mark Scheifele is morphing into the player they envisioned.
After combining for just 28 goals in is first two seasons in the league, the club's 2011 first-round pick went off in 2015-16, finding the back of the net 29 times and setting a career mark with 61 points in 71 games.
The 23-year-old led the Jets with seven power-play goals, and further proved his worth at the World Championship, where he contributed four goals and nine points in nine games en route to capturing gold for Canada.
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