Arbitration dates set for seven NHL restricted free agents
Seattle Kraken forward Kaapo Kakko and Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nick Robertson are among seven NHL restricted free agents scheduled to take part in salary arbitration hearings over the coming weeks.
PuckPedia shared the full list of arbitration hearings slated to take place over the next fortnight, with Kakko and the Kraken set to kick things off on July 25 — that is, unless the two sides can come to an agreement before then.
Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Arvid Soderblom will be next on July 28, followed by New York Islanders winger Maxim Tsyplakov on July 29 and Winnipeg Jets rearguard Dylan Samberg the day after.
Newly acquired Buffalo Sabres defenseman Conor Timmins is scheduled for a hearing on August 2. Finally, both Robertson and Montreal Canadiens defenseman Jayden Struble will wrap things up on August 3.
🔥Arbitration Hearing Dates
Kakko #SeaKraken July 25
Soderblom #Blackhawks July 28
Tsyplakov #Isles July 29
Samberg #NHLJets July 30
Timmins #Sabres Aug 2
Robertson #LeafsForever Aug 3
Struble #GoHabsGo Aug 3
Cases can be settled until hearing beginshttps://t.co/kOVxgObdmw
Kakko, 24, enjoyed a resurgence after being traded to the Kraken midway through the 2024-25 season. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, Kakko seldom found his stride during his time with the New York Rangers but finished the season with 30 points in 49 games with Seattle.
Robertson, 23, has yet to find the same success at the NHL level as his brother, Jason, but set a new career best with 15 goals in 69 games with the Maple Leafs in the 2024-25 season. The 2019 second-round pick also appeared in three playoff games with Toronto in the spring.
If any of the seven named players make it to their arbitration hearings, the contracts they receive will be subject to the discretion of an impartial third party and will only be one or two years in length. If the awarded contract is greater than or equal to $4.85 million per year, the team can choose to walk away from the decision.
In total, 11 players filed for arbitration this summer. Four of them have already agreed to terms with their teams: Morgan Barron (Winnipeg), Gabe Vilardi (Winnipeg), Lukas Dostal (Anaheim Ducks), and Drew Helleson (Anaheim).