The Mike Hoffman contract situation in Ottawa is one to keep an eye on.
Hoffman, who led all NHL rookies with 27 goals last year and currently sits eighth in the league with 20 this season, recently told the Ottawa Sun that -- despite being two weeks into the negotiation period for an extension -- he’s yet to hear about any contract talks with the Sens.
“Not sure what they’re thinking,” he said. “Just have to wait and see.”
While it might seem like a no-brainer for Ottawa to keep Hoffman -- he’s 26, and found the back of the net consistently over the last two years -- there is some history to consider.
Last summer, Hoffman and Ottawa went to arbitration after he requested a one-year, $3.4 million deal. The Sens countered with one year at $1.75M.
Hoffman was eventually awarded a one-year, $2M deal, but later admitted the way he got it was “a little bit difficult.”
“I was kind of a little bit nervous and it’s a little bit intimidating. It’s kind of like a court system,"Hoffman said, per NHL.com. “We talked about my half and then they talked about others.
“At the end of the day, I took this path and this is my job and those things come with your job. You need to accept it and be professional about it. It’s over now.”
As for his new deal, Hoffman -- a pending RFA -- has said he’d like something long-term.
Per the Sun, there’s no indication from the Ottawa front office about whether it’d prefer a shorter, bridge deal or a lengthier contract.