A list of important RFAs heading heading into the summer

Here are a list of important restricted free agents heading into the summer:

• Corey Perry (Ducks) Age: 22


• Kari Lehtonen (Thrashers) Age: 23


• Dennis Wideman (Bruins) Age: 24


• Steve Bernier (Sabres) Age: 22


• Tim Gleason (Hurricanes) Age: 24


• Tuomo Ruutu (Hurricanes) Age: 24


• Andrew Ladd (Blackhawks) Age: 21


• Pascal Leclaire (Blue Jackets) Age: 24


• Marek Svatos (Avalanche) Age: 25


• Wojtek Wolski (Avalanche) Age: 21


• Loui Eriksson (Stars) Age: 21


• Valtteri Filppula (Red Wings) Age: 23


• Joni Pitkanen (Oilers) Age: 23


• Jarret Stoll (Oilers) Age: 25


• Jay Bouwmeester (Panthers) Age: 23


• Rostislav Olesz (Panthers) Age: 21


• Patrick O'Sullivan (Kings) Age: 22


• Pierre-Marc Bouchard (Wild) Age: 23


• Kurtis Foster (Wild) Age: 25


• Jaroslav Halak (Habs) Age: 22


• Andrei Kostitsyn (Habs) Age: 22


• Ryan Suter (Predators) Age: 22


• Shea Weber (Predators) Age: 21


• Andrej Meszaros (Senators) Age: 21


• Antoine Vermette (Senators) Age: 24


• Jeff Carter (Flyers) Age: 22


• R.J. Umberger (Flyers) Age: 25


• Daniel Carcillo (Coyotes) Age: 22


• Marc-Andre Fleury (Penguins) Age: 22


• Ryane Clowe (Sharks) Age: 24


• Christian Ehrhoff (Sharks) Age: 24


• Joe Pavelski (Sharks) Age: 22


• Jay McClement (Blues) Age: 24


• Matt Stajan (Maple Leafs) Age: 23


• Mike Green (Capitals) Age: 21


• Brooks Laich (Capitals) Age: 24

**Source of information www.nhlnumbers.com**

Evaluation of the upcoming RFA crop:

Well, this is quite a list of young, up-and-coming players. The catch for RFAs is that the team that holds the player's rights has the ability to match any contract offer that player receives. If the team chooses not to match, they are given draft picks that are scaled depending on the amount of the contract.

With a limited number of quality UFAs this year (see: my list of UFAs from yesterday), you have to think that a Dustin Penner-like contract offer may be coming this off-season.

Maybe the Oilers will sign Corey Perry to a big offer sheet?? I kid, I kid.