Projected Contract Grades are as follows: 

Decent = A

Kind of bad = B

Bad = C

Abysmal =D

A BRHL special = F

ARTEMI PANARIN 

Current rates - PH 95, PA 94, SC 95, DF 57

Nxt year proj - PH 94, PA 92, SC 87, DF 58

Panarin will be one of the most highly sought-after names this summer.  He will get term and AAV.  I see a regression coming, but not a huge one.  So, by next season his contract will likely only look "Kind of bad" as long as the bidders keep things below about 12 million per.  Projected Grade = B

ZACH HYMAN

Current rates - PH 92, PA 74, SC 97, DF 61

Nxt year proj - PH 90, PA 80, SC 93, DF 65

We all see a drop in the goal-scoring area for Mr Hyman next season, but I think he can sustain his overall offensive output given him prime gig.  He will get big money and term, but I see his contract in only the "Kind of bad" category by this time next summer.  That is if someone doesn't go to a stupid number on his AAV.  Projected Grade = B

CHRIS KREIDER

Current rates - PH 95, PA 81, SC 92, DF 72

Nxt year proj - PH 90, PA 71, SC 88, DF 73

Kreider has arguably better all-round rates than Panarin has, but he's certainly no spring-chicken at this point in his career.  He won't repeat the same production, so unless someone offers him an insane 1 year deal, by this time next year expect his contract to be between the "Kind of bad" and "abysmal" zone.  He still may have decent rates, so Year 3+ will be when it enters the "Abysmal" category.  Projected Grade = C

ALEXANDER OVECHKIN

Current rates - PH 99, PA 80, SC 87, DF 57

Nxt year proj - PH 95, PA 77, SC 86, DF 57

Ovie is an old man for sure, but maybe the most motivated old man to ever lace up the skates.  No doubt he wants Gretzky's record so I imagine he's in the gym 24/7 right now.  I see him signing with a BRHL team for 2-3 seasons for close to 8 figures per.  I don't actually see a large regression, despite his age, so I imagine this contract won't be the worst one signed this summer, but he'll get paid.  Projected Grade = C

NAZEM KADRI

Current rates - PH 89, PA 85, SC 85, DF 64

Nxt year proj - PH 83, PA 80, SC 81, DF 63

At 33 years old, I see Kadri now past his prime.  And because he's not a superstar, I don't see a mid-30s year-old season anytime soon where he has one last hurrah in the stats department.... as is the case sometimes with truly elite players.  There aren't too many UFAs who are 85plus in both PA and SC though, so he'll garner attention. He's not super old though, so someone may give him a bit of term, and then regret it as he slows quickly.   Whatever contract he signs will look really bad in years 2 plus of it.  Projected Grade = D

PATRICK KANE

Current rates - PH 89, PA 84, SC 88, DF 59

Nxt year proj - PH 88, PA 83, SC 86, DF 60

I really don't know how Kane's season will go, but he does fall into that truly elite category.  Was last season his last hurrah, and he'll have a big decline now, or will he come out firing in 24-25 for a swan song before slow regression sets in?  I kind of like the latter and think that when we review the contract he signs a year from now, it'll only be labeled as "Kind of bad".  Projected Grade = B

MATS ZUCCARELLO

Current rates - PH 99, PA 90, SC 70, DF 63

Nxt year proj - PH 95, PA 82, SC 72, DF 62

Zuc is for sure hitting his twilight years.  I don't see him garnering massive money or term because of both his age and his lower SC and DF numbers.  He will obviously regress, but there's value in players who make those around them much better, and I think Zuccarello will have some of those abilities left a year from now.  Grade in year 2 of whatever deal he signs.. "Kind of bad", but "not abysmal".  Projected Grade = B

RYAN O'REILLY

Current rates - PH 90, PA 83, SC 83, DF 77

Nxt year proj - PH 81, PA 73, SC 80, DF 79

I love O'Reilly, but I don't see him repeating what he did last season.  His all-round game is always there, but there's no doubt in my mind that he'll slow down.  He's decent in all the main ratings for this season, so look out for some hefty offers.  The heftiest of all though, won't look great even as soon as next summer.  Projected Grade = F

EVGENI MALKIN

Current rates - PH 91, PA 82, SC 84, DF 68

Nxt year proj - PH 92, PA 84, SC 82, DF 66

I think Malkin is getting too old to see a jump in his production.  And that's only because he's aging like a fine wine.  But he did regress a bit last season, so I do see him holding serve this year.  I don't think GM's will overpay based on his age, which may provide for a minuscule amount of value.   Projected Grade = B

BROCK NELSON 

Current rates - PH 86, PA 80, SC 88, DF 66

Nxt year proj - PH 81, PA 80, SC 87, DF 68

Nelson has kind of morphed into a pretty solid sim player over the past few years.  He checks off a lot of categories so I do see him getting a nice paycheque come July 15th.  I say he mainains most of his production, but it'll come at a cost for whoever wants to lock him up.  Projected Grade = C

WILLIAM KARLSSON

Current rates - PH 84, PA 80, SC 89, DF 79

Nxt year proj - PH 77, PA 80, SC 78, DF 78

Karlsson had a terrific season in the goal-scoring department.  I think it's unlikely he repeats that, but will still be a great all-round player.  He'll get paid this summer for sure, but if he only loses a bit of his goal scoring touch, it might prove to be an okay contract for a season or two.  Projected Grade = B

KYLE PALMIERI

Current rates - PH 85, PA 74, SC 86, DF 67

Nxt year proj - PH 78, PA 73, SC 80, DF 63

Despite average ratings in the other categories, Palmieri has decent SC this year.  He'll get some generous bids because of that, and some desperate GM will likely overpay.  He will also regress, so I don't see this contract looking great by next summer.  Projected Grade = D

MIKAEL GRANLUND

Current rates - PH 86, PA 89, SC 70, DF 82

Nxt year proj - PH 79, PA 79, SC 68, DF 75

Despite not being impressive in maybe the most important category, Granlund had a great year in some of the others.  Basically opposite to our study case prior to.  It was a massive leap for him over the prior season, so I don't see a ton of staying power.  He should get plenty of interest, which may lead to someone looking back next July and saying "ouch".  Projected Grade = D 

TREVOR MOORE 

Current rates - PH 79, PA 76, SC 87, DF 77

Nxt year proj - PH 78, PA 77, SC 82, DF 76

As one of the younger UFAs, Moore stands a chance at being a solid middle 6 guy for several years.  That will certainly inflate his salary somewhat.  But there aren't too many UFAs that fall into this category so he may be worth a long-term flier.  Looking back a year from now, his contract might be aging A-okay, but all it takes is one tanking Cordell to offer him the moon and it won't end pretty.  Projected Grade = C

BLAKE COLEMAN

Current rates - PH 72, PA 75, SC 87, DF 82

Nxt year proj - PH 65, PA 71, SC 73, DF 75

Coleman had a lovely year last season when compared to his prior ones.  He'll be 33 early in 2024-25 making it unlikely he repeats the same production.  He'll get some solid offers during free agency, but anything with much term will look very ugly, very quickly.  Projected Grade = F

NICK FOLIGNO

Current rates - PH 84, PA 72, SC 74, DF 77

Nxt year proj - PH 74, PA 70, SC 71, DF 75

Foligno is aging quickly, but he does have a good gig.  I don't see large BRHL offers coming his way, so I think by next summer we may look back at him and see some value and common sense out of the 2024 UFA class.  Projected Grade = B

REILLY SMITH 

Current rates - PH 78, PA 78, SC 70, DF 70

Nxt year proj - PH 77, PA 78, SC 77, DF 72

Smith took a bit of a step back last year.  He is aging, but he's not too old not to have a solid bounceback.  This contract could look rough a few years down the road if someone decides to give him term, but a year from now we might be saying "hmmmmm".  Projected Grade = B

SEAN COUTURIER 

Current rates - PH 82, PA 78, SC 68, DF 75

Nxt year proj - PH 82, PA 75, SC 71, DF 73

Well, he made it back.  Plagued by injuries most of his career, Couturier managed to suit up for most of the Flyers games.  I think it's unlikely he does so again, but as not the oldest or youngest UFA out there, I see him maintaing his pace for a year or two.  I don't see a ton of value, but could slide nicely onto someone's 3rd line.  Projected Grade = C

JADEN SCHWARTZ

Current rates - PH 82, PA 72, SC 72, DF 68

Nxt year proj - PH 80, PA 72, SC 76, DF 67

I could potentially see Schwartz get paid a little more than he should based on name value.  He's a lower in the lineup contributor these days, but with the potential for at least one or two more good seasons in him.  That is just a gamble that GMs will have to decide to make, or not make, though.  Projected Grade = C

BRANDON SAAD

Current rates - PH 76, PA 65, SC 83, DF 68

Nxt year proj - PH 75, PA 66, SC 79, DF 71

Here's a feller who could slide into a 3rd line role with someone.  As UFAs go, he might be a little pricy for a 3rd liner, but there's value there.  Maybe a tiny regression next season, but I don't see anything major.  Projected Grade = B

NINO NIEDERREITER

Current rates - PH 80, PA 66, SC 74, DF 68

Nxt year proj - PH 78, PA 66, SC 76, DF 65

For some reason I think this guy still has decent juice left in the tank.  Maybe a 3 year deal would be ideal for him.  If somone goes 4-5 then it quickly becomes a bad contract.  I don't see people going crazy on him and think he could be solid next season. Projected Grade = B

ONDREJ PALAT

Current rates - PH 72, PA 73, SC 68, DF 70

Nxt year proj - PH 72, PA 74, SC 68, DF 69

He's still got some value as a responsible set-up man.  Maybe one last kick at the can of offensive productivity, but would it be this year?  The one after?  I see someone offering up some dough because he's a winger for a team with star centres, but things may just not pan out at this point in his career.  Projected Grade C