Tyler Tucker
Tyler Tucker stuck around for 26 games this season, and the blueliner looks like he’s nothing more than the type you put in and play a physical game between 12 and 14 minutes per contest. He plays a role, but it’s not enough to warrant an extension in the summer of 2024.
Tucker will most likely find himself in a ‘prove-it’ year for 2024-25, and if he brings more value, the 24-year-old may sign a bridge deal next offseason.
Joel Hofer
Joel Hofer is the first player on this list who you can honestly say will be in the running for a contract extension this offseason. But the young netminder won’t sign a long-term deal just yet, as it’s more likely he will get something for between two and three seasons before he gets the lucrative contract when he’s eligible for a future extension.
If the extension doesn’t come at some point before the 2024-25 season begins, Hofer will likely see it come his way during the season if he keeps playing a solid game as the 1B/backup netminder. He only needs to repeat what he did last season, and Hofer will see himself earning a seven-figure AAV in Gateway City when the 2025-26 season opens up.