Eight instances of ongoing investigations in the National Hockey League due for resolution
In the world of ice hockey, the 2025 offseason has been a busy one, with several notable players entering the restricted free agency (RFA) period. Here's an update on some of the key RFAs, including Luke Hughes, Marco Rossi, Mason McTavish, and Connor McDavid.
Luke Hughes (Defence, age 21), who established himself as the top scorer for the New Jersey Devils last season, remains a top RFA priority. Despite having no arbitration rights, Hughes had a strong rookie season (47 points), earning him a spot as a Calder finalist and a place on the 2024 NHL All-Rookie Team. Negotiations are ongoing, and the Seattle Kraken's management is confident a deal will be reached eventually.
Marco Rossi (Centre, age 23), who had a 60-point, 24-goal season, is also an RFA without a contract. Minnesota Wild appears to be in ongoing discussions for his signing. Rossi, a first-round pick in 2020 (9th overall), had a mixed season last year, scoring 25 points in his first 37 games with the Carolina Hurricanes but only 14 points in the next 44 games.
Mason McTavish (Centre, age 22) remains an unsigned RFA with the Anaheim Ducks. His situation is still unresolved, indicating contract negotiations are ongoing into August. The Canadiens, who have a glaring need for a centre, have expressed interest in McTavish due to his age and position. However, the modest return the Ducks received when they let Trevor Zegras go suggests other teams may not value McTavish as highly.
Connor McDavid (Centre), the league's best player, is not an RFA this year. His contract status has not been an issue this offseason, as he is either a star UFA or already signed player and thus unaffected by this RFA period.
As the 2025-2026 season approaches, many other RFAs such as Kaapo Kakko have filed for salary arbitration, signaling continued tense negotiations around the league. Some young star players like Evan Bouchard and Alexis Lafreniere have already signed contracts, while others like Martin Necas, Kirill Kaprizov, Jack Eichel, Kyle Connor, Artemi Panarin, Sergei Bobrovsky, and Adrian Kempe are eligible for free agency in July 2026.
The future of French-language NHL broadcasting in Canada is also unclear. The 2025-2026 season will be the last of the 12-year agreement between TVA Sports and Rogers for French-language NHL games in Canada. It's unclear who will produce these games after this season, as Quebecor's network may not have the financial strength to continue. Everyone expects at least one web giant, like Amazon or Apple, to be part of the solution for French-language NHL broadcasting in Canada.
Meanwhile, Connor McDavid's future in Edmonton remains uncertain after the team's defeat in the Stanley Cup Finals last June. The Red Wings fans are also active in discussions about McTavish's potential trade from Anaheim.
In summary, Luke Hughes is the highest-profile RFA with positive prospects for a deal soon; Mason McTavish and Marco Rossi remain unsigned with active negotiations; Connor McDavid is not an RFA this year and thus unaffected by this RFA period. The future of French-language NHL broadcasting in Canada also hangs in the balance.
- The Seattle Kraken are hopeful they can reach a deal with French-Canadian defenseman, Luke Hughes, who has shown potential in the NHL, especially in hockey, having scored 47 points during his rookie season.
- While the Minnesota Wild are in ongoing discussions with Marco Rossi, a French-speaking center known for his point-scoring abilities, their interest doesn't seem to be as high as other teams that have expressed interest in Mason McTavish, a French-Canadian center still unsigned with the Anaheim Ducks.
