Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington, who was instrumental in the team’s midseason turnaround and subsequent Stanley Cup championship, was among the top players to enter arbitration. He earned first-team all-rookie honors and was a finalist for the Calder Trophy despite playing in just 32 regular season games last season. He ended up signing a two-year, $8.8 million deal before his hearing.
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Bruins forward Danton Heinen — who faced Binnington in this year’s Stanley Cup Final, Flames center Sam Bennett and Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba, who joined New York via trade from Winnipeg on June 17, also scheduled meetings in Toronto.
The Blues and Flames, with four each, had the most players file for arbitration. St. Louis will look to settle with Binnington, forwards Zach Sanford and Oskar Sundqvist and defenseman Joel Edmundson. Calgary is looking for a settlement with goalie David Rittich, who would back up newly acquired Cam Talbot.
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Arbitration hearings will begin toward the end of July. While most disputes will end up settled before hearings take place, any negotiation that reaches arbitration must have a decision from the arbitrator no more than 48 hours after the meeting. The team then has the option to accept or decline the salary that the arbitrator sets. If the salary is declined, the player can then declare himself an unrestricted free agent.
Below is a list of all the restricted free agents to file for salary arbitration.
