Forsberg getting 6x6, is a pretty good comparison for Hoffman. They stack up side to side on points but Filip has higher room for improvement due to age, while we would be buying out UFA years from Hoff.
I don't see it. Forsberg got 6x6 partially because of potential. Players like him and Barkov get contracts like that because teams are willing to take a risk on them thinking that they'll get better in 2-3 years and cost the team a significantly higher cap hit on a bridge deal. Forsberg is also a much better all around player than Hoffman and cracked 30 goals this past season.
As far as comparables go, Nyquists deal has already been mentioned. Matt Moulson got 3x3 a few years back after two 30 goal seasons. It is hard to find perfect comparable contracts because of the unique timing of Hoffman's rise.
I have no doubt in my mind, that if Hoffman has a third near 30 goal season, someone will give him 6x6 next year. But I find it suspect that the Senators haven't traded him, and that they haven't agreed to a contract. Pure speculation, but this leads me to believe that maybe no other team in the league sees Hoffman as being worth what he is asking right now. If you're trading for Hoffman, and you think you can extend him, of course you give up a lot. But if you call about Hoffman and find out it is going to take 6M per over a long term deal to get him done, maybe you are only interested in trading for him as a one year rental with a wait and see approach to extending him, which makes Hoffman less valuable to your team.
I wouldn't have thought this even a week ago, but with how seem to be going from the outside looking in, I wouldn't be surprised if Ottawa goes to arbitration with Hoffman and keeps him for a year.
Or maybe there is an understanding that they won't be able to trade him until after July 1st since teams who might be in on him want to see what happens with free agency before giving up assets to acquire a possibly 6M per contract via trade.
