Nothing I've heard from DW on plans for Donksoi, but I am far from surprised at this stage. Smart money is probably betting that Donskoi is signed because he's an RFA, rather than UFA.
Sharks have slightly over $14M/yr coming off in payroll for UFA, and another $5.7M/yr for RFA. Of that $19.7M/yr sum, $2.24M/yr goes to Burns. So this leaves $17.5M/yr for DW to resign/acquire players.
Also, import to note is two items. First, no defenseman is UFA or RFA this offseason. Second is the expansion draft for the Las Vegas team.
I would say that it's good timing on Donskoi to be resigned, and of the RFA, he's the most attractive to retain. I would rank the RFA's in this order:
1- Donskoi
2- Tierney
3- Karlsson
4- Nieto
In fact, I would put Donskoi ahead of in Wingels in signing priority. Wingels is a UFA, along with Thornton, Marleau, and Haley.
I would much rather have Donskoi next year over Boedker if it comes to that choice. Boedker is making $4M/yr and does not seem to be justifiying that cap hit on the ice to me. I suspect that Boedker will not be protected from the expansion draft.
Of the list of players not performing to their cap hit, I would choose these players:
1- Ward
2- Boedker
3- Paul Martin
4- Dillion
I expect these will not be protected players, and it bodes well for Donksoi to not be on that list. It looks good for him, but I hope Boedker's salary does not lift Donksoi's resigning too high.
It's still early enough in the season so that things can change as players find themselves, get into their groove, and out-perform expectations.
He'll probably re-sign him after the season is over but he is exempt from the expansion draft so there is no need to protect him.
I don't think the NHL has clarified whether players coming off their ELC prior to the draft and are not under 25 are protected or not. All I've seen are sources other than the NHL.