Throughout June, theScore will be projecting contracts for the star-studded restricted free-agent class. In this edition, we project Timo Meier's new deal.

The player

Timo Meier came into his own during the final year of the winger's entry-level contract. He nearly doubled his previous career high in points and ranked third on the Sharks with 30 goals while establishing himself as a top-six threat.

The 22-year-old was incredibly efficient during his production spike this season, too. Meier suited up for just under 17 minutes per contest, and he still finished the year 14th among all regularly deployed forwards with 1.21 goals per 60 at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick.

Meier, the ninth overall pick in 2015, offers a blend of size, speed, and scoring touch. He asserted himself more during the 2019 playoffs, too, racking up 15 points in 20 games before the Sharks bowed out in the Western Conference Final.

The team

The Sharks might own the NHL's longest to-do list this summer. General manager Doug Wilson has some crucial decisions to make, and he faces a bevy of contract situations that need to be resolved.

Aside from Meier, the Sharks' list of expiring deals includes captain Joe Pavelski, Joe Thornton, Erik Karlsson, Joonas Donskoi, and Gustav Nyquist, all of whom are unrestricted free agents. Kevin Labanc, fresh off a career-high 56-point campaign, is an RFA as well.

It's hard to imagine veterans Pavelski and Thornton suiting up elsewhere, but even if they stay put, their combined cap hit will likely eat up a fair chunk of San Jose's projected $24.7 million available to spend.

Then there's Karlsson, who still put up 45 points in 53 games despite suffering through an injury-riddled debut season in the Bay Area. He has every right to demand a salary that places him among the highest-paid defensemen.

Bringing everybody back doesn't seem feasible, so Wilson needs to play this offseason carefully to ensure the Sharks' competitive window stays open as long as possible.

The comparables

Here's a list of comparable contracts wingers have signed coming out of their ELCs in recent years:

CH% = Cap hit percentage, based on cap ceiling when the contract was signed

* - In contract year
** - Nylander's cap hit in 2018-19 was prorated to $10.2 million because of time missed in negotiations

Meier posted a 0.84 points-per-game average this season, putting him on track to land a similar deal to those above. However, with the salary cap set to reach $83 million next season, he could earn more than some of his peers.

The most interesting case on the list is Hertl, Meier's teammate who was given a four-year contract even when he was producing pedestrian numbers. In the first year of his new deal, though, Hertl exploded for 35 goals and 74 points, turning his cap hit into a bargain for now.

Meier isn't quite on the same level as Mitch Marner, Mikko Rantanen, or Patrik Laine when compared to other RFA wingers up for new deals in this summer's star-studded class. But he should still land a comfortable long-term contract.

The projection

Meier emerged as a strong scorer while carving out a nice role during his contract year, and he should be compensated accordingly. However, it's hard to imagine him breaking the bank on a huge deal with the Sharks facing cap constraints and several other contracts to negotiate.

The only Sharks forwards currently locked in for more than two seasons are Logan Couture, Evander Kane, and Hertl. From Wilson's perspective, it makes sense to add Meier to that list at a rate that matches up with market value, and one that won't handcuff the team down the road.

Verdict: six years, $37.8 million ($6.3M AAV)

Others in this series:

• Zach Werenski
• Charlie McAvoy
• Sebastian Aho
• Mikko Rantanen (June 7)
• Brock Boeser (June 10)
• Patrik Laine & Kyle Connor (June 11)
• Brayden Point (June 12)
• Matthew Tkachuk (June 13)
• Mitch Marner (June 14)

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When it comes to the Stanley Cup Final, the stakes are simply too high for players to bring anything less than their A-game.

However, some have an easier time coming up clutch in big moments than others. Here are three players who are at the height of their powers in the NHL's ultimate series.

Tuukka Rask

No player has dominated the field this spring quite like Rask has. The Bruins netminder is in the thick of the Conn Smythe conversation thanks to an absurd stat line that features 14 wins and a .938 save percentage.

Rask hasn't allowed more than three goals in a single contest since Game 4 of the first round, and his icy-cool demeanor has the Bruins on the cusp of winning their second Stanley Cup of the decade.

Ryan O'Reilly

O'Reilly is tied for first on the Blues in postseason scoring with 18 points, and he's notched four of those during this series.

The 28-year-old two-way pivot had the performance of a lifetime in Game 4, registering two enormous goals - including the game-winner - to help provide the Blues their first ever Cup Final win on home ice.

Torey Krug

The Conn Smythe could very well end up in the hands of Krug - who leads all players this postseason with 14 assists in 21 games - if it doesn't go to Rask. The 28-year-old is also tied for third in scoring on the Bruins with 16 points.

Krug is the catalyst for Boston's lethal power play and put together a signature performance in Game 3 - a one-goal, three-assist effort that put him alone in franchise history as the only player to record four points in a single Cup Final game.

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Winnipeg Jets forward Jack Roslovic requested a trade at least once last season because of a lack of playing time, sources told The Athletic's Aaron Portzline.

On Thursday, Roslovic fired his agent, Ken Robinson, in favor of Claude Lemieux, Portzline added.

Roslovic was the 25th overall pick of the 2015 draft but has just 14 goals and 24 assists in 109 career NHL games.

The 22-year-old spent the bulk of the 2018-19 season on the fourth line and averaged fewer than 10 minutes per game. He did, however, still see time on the power play.

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Erik Karlsson is on the mend.

The superstar defenseman underwent surgery on May 31 to address a groin injury he suffered during the 2018-19 campaign with the San Jose Sharks, the club announced Wednesday.

Karlsson has started his rehabilitation and is expected to recover in time to suit up for the beginning of next season.

The 29-year-old was limited to 53 regular-season games this past year and was noticeably laboring toward the end of the Sharks' playoff run.

Karlsson logged fewer than 11 minutes of ice time in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final against the St. Louis Blues and did not play in Game 6, the contest in which the Blues eliminated the Sharks.

He can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

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Throughout June, theScore will be projecting contracts for the star-studded restricted free-agent class. In this edition, we project Sebastian Aho's new deal.

The player

Aho has made significant strides in each season since joining the Carolina Hurricanes after slipping to 35th overall in the 2015 NHL Draft.

What made Aho's most recent campaign so impressive is that he switched from playing left wing in his first two seasons to playing center in 2018-19. Centers are more valuable on the ice and are generally paid accordingly.

Aho has proven to be a hard-working, two-way player with a dynamic offensive skill set. He's quickly become the face of the Hurricanes franchise.

The team

The Hurricanes are in a pretty enviable position. Fresh off its first playoff appearance in nine years and a miracle run to the Eastern Conference Final, Carolina has $28.7 million in cap space to work with. Outside of Aho, the Hurricanes' only key free agents are goaltenders Petr Mrazek and Curtis McElhinney and forwards Justin Williams and Micheal Ferland.

Considering Aho's importance to the franchise, an eight-year deal seems like a strong possibility. At max term, Aho's cap hit would rise, but the Hurricanes have the room to make it work. However, as a small-market team, it's unclear what the organization's actual budget is.

The comparables

Here's a select list of centers who signed contracts out of restricted free agency in the last few years:

CH% = Cap hit percentage, based on cap ceiling when the contract was signed

Despite being chosen 33 picks ahead of Aho in the 2015 draft, Eichel might offer the best comparison. Aho's 0.81 points per game in his first three seasons is less than Eichel's 0.85 mark, but Aho's 1.01 points per game in his contract year is better than Eichel's 0.95 in his.

Draisaitl is also on this list despite splitting time between center and wing during his career. He offers an interesting comparison after averaging 0.94 points per game in his contract year.

The projection

With ample cap space, it makes sense for the Hurricanes to lock up their best player for as long as possible. As was the case with the majority of the names listed above, it seems like there's a high probability of an eight-year deal.

The cap hit is tougher to gauge, though. Aho's value is much higher than it was a year ago after his smooth transition to the middle of the ice, so anything between $9 million and $11 million could be in the cards.

Verdict: 8 years, $82 million ($10.25 million AAV, 12.35 CH%)

Others in this series:

• Zach Werenski
• Charlie McAvoy
• Timo Meier (June 6)
• Mikko Rantanen (June 7)
• Brock Boeser (June 10)
• Patrik Laine & Kyle Connor (June 11)
• Brayden Point (June 12)
• Matthew Tkachuk (June 13)
• Mitch Marner (June 14)

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The Boston Bruins were without captain Zdeno Chara at practice Wednesday while defenseman Matt Grzelcyk returned to the ice in a non-contact jersey.

Chara took a puck to the face in Game 4 and reportedly suffered a broken jaw on the play. There's still no word on whether he'll be good to go in Game 5, according to head coach Bruce Cassidy.

Grzelcyk was on the ice for the first time since being hit from behind by Blues forward Oskar Sundqivst in Game 2. The 25-year-old blue-liner is still in concussion protocol and is hopeful to be cleared to play in Thursday's contest.

Here's how the Bruins' defensive pairings were set for practice with two regulars out.

Game 5 gets underway at 8:00 p.m. ET on Thursday with the series tied 2-2.

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Trading winger Jesse Puljujarvi remains a strong option for the Edmonton Oilers, reports TSN's Darren Dreger, citing league sources.

It was reported in February that the Oilers were open to trading the 21-year-old, but Edmonton's since remodeled its front office with the hiring of general manager Ken Holland.

Puljujarvi is finished his entry-level contract and is a restricted free agent this summer. After an underwhelming start to his career, Puljujarvi isn't in line for a big contract, but his agent quashed rumblings of a potential KHL deal in Finland, according to Dreger.

After Puljujarvi was put on the trade block earlier this season, his agent suggested a change of scenery could benefit his client.

Puljujarvi was drafted fourth overall by the Oilers in 2016. He's split time between the big club and the AHL's Bakersfield Condors but has only produced 37 points in 139 NHL games.

He appeared in just 46 games in 2018-19 due to season-ending hip surgery.

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Pavel Datsyuk put any rumors of a potential return to the NHL to rest Wednesday, signing a one-year deal to remain in the KHL with his hometown Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg, the league announced Wednesday.

After three years with SKA St. Petersburg, Datsyuk announced in May that he wouldn't be returning to the club, prompting some speculation that the 40-year-old was interested in a return to North America.

Before the former All-Star opted to stay in the KHL, agent Dan Milstein said the only NHL team Datsyuk would suit up for would be the Detroit Red Wings, with whom he spent the entirety of his 14-season career.

Datsyuk recorded 918 points in 953 games during his NHL tenure, winning two Stanley Cups, four Lady Byng Trophies, and three Selkes.

The Magic Man posted 12 goals and 30 assists in 54 games with St. Petersburg last year.

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