Seravalli: NHL Group VI UFAs to Watch leading up to Trade Deadline

It’s that time of year. In the days leading up to the trade deadline, NHL front offices are scouring the reserve lists of every opposing franchise, trying to find either a market inefficiency or a player their scouts believe has promise but has been overlooked in another organization.

Group VI free agents are a part of that due diligence process, a wrinkle in the CBA specifically designed to give players who haven’t gotten a chance at the NHL level to break free from the restricted free agent system.

What is a Group VI free agent?

• A player who is on an expiring contract and is 25 years old or older, as of June 30.
• A player who has completed three or more professional seasons. A professional season is 11 or more professional games (at any level) at the age of 18 or 19, or just one professional game at the age of 20 or older.
• A player who has played in fewer than 80 games, or 28 games of 30 minutes or more as a goaltender. (Note: This requirement was prorated down due to the pandemic.)

If all three of those criteria are met, the player becomes a full-fledged UFA at the end of the season and is afforded all of the same rights as other UFAs.

That status can create significant leverage for the player, and it can also make him a trade target if he has no intention of re-signing with his current team.

Two recent Group VI free agents have become impact players.

Michael Bunting became a Group VI UFA last summer after falling way short of the games played threshold with the Arizona Coyotes. His 10 goals in 21 NHL games put him on the radar of the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he signed a two-year, $1.9 million deal that has him in the Calder Trophy conversation and among the best bargain buys in the league this season.

Carson Soucy also hit Group VI UFA status in 2020 after a breakout, 55-game season with the Minnesota Wild. Rather than let him walk as a free agent, the Wild re-signed him to a three-year deal worth $2.75 million per season. He was ultimately claimed by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 Expansion Draft.

Teams have already begun to lock-up pending Group VI guys, like the Washington Capitals did by re-signing Joe Snively on Wednesday.

Here is our list of Group VI free agents to watch:

1. Rem Pitlick
Center / Wing, Montreal Canadiens
Age: 24 (turns 25 on April 2)
Threshold required: 74 GP
Games played: 55
Must play in 19 of remaining 22 games to retain rights
Scoop: What a revelation the twice-waived Pitlick has been for the Habs. He now has 12 goals and 15 assists for 27 points in 44 games this season split between the Wild and Canadiens. Pitlick is playing north of 16 minutes a night for Marty St. Louis and looks to be Paul Byron 2.0 as a successful waiver claim with a future. He is tracking towards the Canadiens retaining his rights – and on top of that, the Canadiens would like to re-sign him, though they haven’t gotten around to that yet with their short-term deadline priorities. Interestingly, also a case in how burning one year of an entry-level deal can be a detriment: The one game he played with Preds in 2018-19 counted as one of his three pro seasons.

2. Jacob Middleton
Left Defense, San Jose Sharks
Age: 26
Threshold required: 73 GP
Games played: 55
Must play in 18 of remaining 23 games to retain rights
Scoop: Another great story, Middleton spent a loooong time in the San Jose organization in the AHL before bursting onto the scene this year, playing top pair minutes some nights with Brent Burns. He’s averaging 22 minutes a night over the last month. The Sharks are reportedly ready to move him, asking for a second-round pick as well as another pick. Many teams believe that is an over-inflated ask. There is also risk for an acquiring team. What if Middleton is acquired and gets hurt? If he doesn’t play in 18 more games this season, he can walk in the summer for nothing.

3. Luke Philp
Forward, Calgary Flames
Age: 26
Threshold required: 72 GP
Games played: Zero
Will become a Group VI UFA unless re-signed
Scoop: This name is probably flying a bit under the radar, but Philp will become a sought after Group VI UFA if the Flames don’t re-sign him. He spent three years with the University of Alberta Golden Bears after a quality WHL run. Since then, Philp has only grown in three years in the AHL, putting up 18 goals and 31 points in 47 games with the Stockton Heat this season. If he doesn’t re-sign in Calgary, another team may be able to swing the Philp double scoop, as his younger brother Noah is a stud, undrafted 6-foot-3 defenseman at the U of A who is also available as a free agent after this season ends.

4. Chase Priskie
Right Defense, Florida Panthers
Age: 25
Threshold required: 72 GP
Games played: 4
Will become a Group VI UFA unless re-signed
Scoop: Priskie hasn’t been able to break through at the NHL level, particularly on a crowded right side with Aaron Ekblad, MacKenzie Weegar, Radko Gudas and Brandon Montour. But teams feel Priskie has more to give and may be ready for an opportunity elsewhere. Given that he is a pending UFA, he is a prime trade chip to be included in any transaction for the Panthers at the deadline. He is also a coveted right-shot defenseman, and there are not many available. Priskie has collected 26 points in 40 games for Florida’s AHL affiliate in Charlotte this season. He averaged 14 minutes a night in four games of spot duty for the Cats this year.

5. Taro Hirose
Left Wing, Detroit Red Wings
Age: 25
Threshold required: 74 GP
Games played: 44
Will become a Group VI UFA unless re-signed
Scoop: Hirose picked up two assists for the Red Wings in Edmonton on Tuesday night in his first NHL action since December, called up for the injured Robby Fabbri. He’s been an excellent producer at the AHL level, with 45 points in 51 games in Grand Rapids this season, as well as 100 in 116 career games. Wings fans were clamoring Hirose is already better than a few players on the current roster. Hard to say whether he’ll get the opportunity in Detroit to prove that after getting a shot in four straight seasons under coach Jeff Blashill already.

Notable players who can still be retained on RFA status: G Jonas Johansson (Florida, 2 GP required); F Mitchell Stephens (Detroit, 13/22 GP required); RD Noah Juulsen (Vancouver, 21/21 GP required); LD William Lagesson (Edmonton, 18/22 GP required); LD Sami Niku (Montreal, 6/22 GP required); LD Jake Walman (St. Louis, 19/23 GP required).

Notable players who will become Group VI UFA unless re-signed: RD Mark Friedman (Pittsburgh); RW Cooper Marody (Edmonton); LD Sebastian Aho (N.Y. Islanders); F Adam Brooks (Winnipeg); G Felix Sandstrom (Philadelphia); RW Zach Senyshyn (Boston).