Welcome back my fellow Cap-friendlies! If your league championship is decided by this week, I wish you the best of luck!

As we begin to look forward to the summer and my all-time favorite thing – watching playoff hockey next to a bonfire – we have to keep in mind how our rosters are going to turnover coming into next season. Last week, we went over defensemen due for a bigger ticket, this week it's all about the forwards but there's a caveat here – only the ones that are RFA/Arbitrationeligible, because there are few names here that are going to really impact your cap situation.

Data as of Wednesday, April 15^th.

Connor Bedard, C, Chicago Blackhawks, 20 years old. Expiring – $950K

As a 'Hawks an, you know I have to start with Connor Bedard. Some beat writers insist he'll absolutely sign, others hint at uncertainty, but one thing isn't up for debate: he's due for a massive raise.

Last season, Bedard put up 67 points in 82 games. This year, he's already at 73 points in just 68 games—despite spending most of his time with linemates who offer very little offensive support and even less defensive help. What we don't know is whether any formal negotiations have taken place. Outside of a quiet handshake understanding, there's been no confirmed progress on a new deal. That leaves us guessing on both term and dollar amount, and the Hawks are notoriously tight‑lipped, so speculation comes with plenty of uncertainty.

The closest comparable I could think of is Jack Hughes, who signed an eight‑year deal at $8 million per. With cap inflation, Bedard's number likely lands closer to $10–$10.5 million if he signs for the same term.

If you roster Bedard in fantasy, first off—congrats on being bad enough three years ago to draft him. Second, that projected $10 million cap hit shouldn't shock you. I'm not here to predict whether he tests the market, but it's worth noting he hasn't won in Chicago and didn't win in Regina. I'll add this as well: there were rumors of an offer sheet. They're just rumors, but there was enough buzz to at least acknowledge it. We're either heading toward a quiet announcement of an agreement—or a full‑blown roller coaster on July 1^st.

Jason Robertson, LW, Dallas Stars, 26 years old. Expiring $7.75M RFA + ARB

A few seasons ago, I came on here at the start of the year and cautiously suggested that the bridge deal with Jason Robertson might end up being a "kick the can down the road" situation. Well, dinner's over, and the check has officially arrived.

Between the early, head‑scratching trade rumors and the Stars' cap picture, Dallas now finds itself in a tough spot with Robertson—and fantasy managers are along for the ride. Trading him at the deadline was never realistic; the return would've been underwhelming, and the team would've taken a clear step backward. And if you're Robertson heading into negotiations, you don't need to guess at your value, as you can point directly at Kyle Connor's jump from a $7.1M AAV to $12M next season. The numbers back it up too: Robertson has cleared 90 points and is on track for a career‑best 1.19 points per game.

My gut for anyone rostering Robertson: that $12M Connor figure is the neighborhood you should expect once the dust settles. The Stars enter the summer with roughly $14M in cap space, potentially pushing toward $20M with LTIR, but that money will evaporate faster than people think. One of my rules—when you're in a championship window, you don't cheap out.

For fantasy purposes, the best‑case scenario is a long‑term agreement. Arbitration could get messy, and a short‑term arb award would make projecting your cap situation a headache. A clean extension is the outcome you want, even if it comes with a hefty number.

Trevor Zegras, C/LW, Philadelphia Flyers, 25 years old. Expiring $5.75M AAV

I've got to give credit where it's due—the Philadelphia Flyers bought low on Trevor Zegras, and it's paid off beautifully for them. Now he's due for a raise, and I suspect the number might be higher than many expect.

Rostering Zegras in fantasy has been a roller coaster, but he's reliably a 20‑goal scorer, and this season he posted a career‑best shooting percentage at 15.6. His situation improved as the year went on, especially once Tyson Foerster returned to help cover defensive gaps and reduce Zegras'own responsibilities. The Flyers also did something the Ducks drifted away from in his final Anaheim season: they put him back in a meaningful power‑play role. That alone delivered 10power‑play points for fantasy managers.

I try not to assume anything in the NHL, but even with the Flyers' rough patch in the middle of the season, it's hard not to see a sustainable path forward for this team. If that's the case, Zegras becomes a priority signing. He's a 70‑point center, and while Christian Dvorak and Noah Cates are strong defensively, neither can provide that level of offense. Add in the fact that this summer's market for top‑six centers is thin, and Zegras'value only climbs.

Most fantasy players probably expect something around 6×$8M AAV, but I'd argue the number could come in higher. His role on the team, the market conditions, and the fact that he's represented by Pat Brisson—who has a long track record of securing lucrative deals—point toward a bigger payday.

Adam Fantilli, C, Columbus Blue Jackets, 21 year old. Expiring $950K AAV

I find myself wondering a few things about Adam Fantilli and the Columbus Blue Jackets. Specifically, whether the organization has intentionally played the long game here—because Fantilli looks very close to becoming a premier player in both the NHL and fantasy. His offensive production has climbed in each of his first three seasons, and if he signs before the other RFAs coming off their entry‑level deals, he could very well set the market.

Columbus' cap situation is one of the more confusing ones in the league, and that alone makes me think Fantilli's number could come in higher than people expect. He's already a strong fantasy asset, and you're hoping he grows into a point‑per‑game player—something he's flashed at times. In dynasty formats, you might be stuck speculating for now, but for newcomers entering a dynasty‑salary draft, he's probably a wait‑and‑see option until we know where next year's cap hit lands.

*Salary Cap data from PuckPedia.com  

For continued fantasy news and notes, follow me on Twitter @ndySanz.