1. Kent Johnson
It may seem odd to say this because of his draft position and offensive skill. But, I think of the three remaining RFAs, Johnson probably has the easiest deal to get done. He had a really tough sophomore season in the NHL last year, and will probably be looking to sign a shorter-term "prove it" deal.
He started the year in the AHL, and it was quickly evident that he was too good for that league. He scored 5 goals and 15 points in 10 games with the Cleveland Monsters, earning his way right back up to the big club.
It was tough sledding in the NHL, however. Johnson scored just 6 goals and 16 points in 42 games. This comes after an impressive rookie campaign that saw him score 16 goals and 40 points.
Worse, his year ended due to a torn labrum injury suffered in garbage time on February 28th. Which leaves us with a couple of questions:
1. Was this season just growing pains, or are there issues with his development?
2. Is he going to be ready for training camp, and will the injury further hamper development?
My gut says that the answer to #1 is that this was just a season of transition for Kent. He showed lots of promise with the puck on his stick, but it felt like the team was trying to use him in ways he's not comfortable playing.
"Playing with more pace" seems counterintuitive to the whole reason they drafted him. He has that rare knack for slowing the game down and making plays, which is all we want to see from him. Put him on a line with a goal scorer and let him flourish.
Answering #2 is trickier. One of the reasons Kent has struggled so far is his lack of strength. He needed to spend this summer getting bigger and stronger, and it seems like that won't be the case. I'm intrigued to see how he starts next season, but he would be wise to bet on his own talent when signing this contract.