you are correct he would be rfa this year and next... team could have taken him to arbitration where i estimate he wouldnt get more than around 6.5 using parinin or gradeau as compables
then let him hit ufa at 27. even if he scores 160 points in next 2 years he isnt likely to get more than 8 as an ufa. no one gets more than 8
A 27 yr old center as skilled as he is? Someone would out of pure desperation give him more than 8m.