5 NHL Players On 1-Year Deals That Could Re-Sign Soon

Players who are on one-year deals aren't eligible to re-sign with their team until Jan. 1. That date has just passed and a handful of players on those short-term deals have shown enough for the teams they play for to want to extend them.

Insider Elliotte Friedman noted that there are five players in a situation where they are likely to re-sign because of their play and where the team is at. He listed Eric Robinson with the Carolina Hurricanes, Ty Emberson with the Edmonton Oilers, Steven Lorentz with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Kevin Lankinen with the Vancouver Canucks, and Jason Zucker with the Buffalo Sabres.

All five of those names have really impressed their teams.

Robinson appears to be the closest to signing and extension. The 28-year-old signed after splitting last season with the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Buffalo Sabres. His career high in goals is 12 and points in 27. Fitting in great with the Hurricanes and now playing on the second line, he has nine goals and 20 points in 41 games. He will get a raise, but it won't be anything crazy.

Emberson has fit in well on the right side of the Oilers' defense. He is a solid third pairing defensive defenseman who will play physically, block shots, and kill penalties. He is also only 24 years old and could very well get better. The Oilers need bargains to fill their depth and he is a strong option.

Lorentz has impressed in Toronto and the Maple Leafs are always looking for formidable depth forwards. He isn't anything special offensively and won't play a ton, but he is already at 113 hits in 42 games and has four goals and eight points to go along with it. He will come cheap and will remain effective.

Lankinen has been huge for the Canucks this season with Thatcher Demko's injuries. With Arturs Silovs struggling to repeat his performance from the playoffs last season, Lankinen has been the starter for most of the season, set records, and helped the up-and-down Canucks stay in the playoff race. He deserves a raise and should get it. He is the perfect goalie to be in the organization with where Demko's health is at.

Zucker has turned back the clock in Buffalo and is very close to leading the young team offensively at age 32. Other than James Reimer, Zucker is the oldest player on the Sabres by over three years and he is second in goals (15) and second in points (31). He signed for $5 million for one season and some thought it was a bit of an overpayment, but the team had lots of money to spare. It has turned into a big bargain and I can see a multi-year extension for him. He has earned it and the Sabres need veteran leadership.