Do Mikheyev and Dermott really get less than Engvall? I'm not too sure they'd be willing to accept such discounts.

From the research I have Done its pretty safe to say Mikheyev will get 1.5-2.25m in Arb

Dubas and others seems to think otherwise, the closest comparable is Josh Leivo who got 925K after a career 22 points in 57 games at age 25. It will definitely be interesting to see what they award him, because really, career 22 points only 39 games at that age is basically nothing, not much to go off of

As for Dermott, leafs have a lot more leeway to squeeze him, he may even take his qualifying offer of $874 125 just to stick around another year

This offseason has been unique because of the COVID flat cap: Devon Toews traded because Lou has no cap space in NYI; Nate Schmidt traded for nothing so VGK could afford Pietrangelo; Andreas Johnsson moved for Joey Anderson; Tyler Johnson placed on waivers by TB... and no one picked him up! It wouldn't surprise me AT ALL to see Mikheyev and Dermott accept less than Engvall. And for the record, I think Dubas is trying to trade both Engvall and Holl for the cap space; if there are no takers, I think both guys will be placed on waivers and buried in the AHL so we get relief from their contracts. We won't save the entire amount, but will get $1.075m savings for each of them.

Bob McKenzie believes Mikheyev will get $1.25m-$1.5m in arbitration and since he opted for arbitration, the Leafs get to pick the term and they'll definitely go 2 years.

Dermott is an RFA but doesn't have arbitration rights so there's really nothing he can do other than threaten to sit out for the season - and that would be a foolish move. Some analysts think he might just accept his $874k qualifying offer which will earn him arbitration rights as an RFA next year. At best, I can see him getting the same amount as Mikheyev.

I know Mikheyev is older, but in his rookie year, shortened by serious injury he had 23pts in 39 games, and was around 900k, he'll definitely get that 1.5 and probably close to 2mil or so in arbitration.

Its also the message the Leafs management is giving if they are giving young guys deals that are "team friendly" like bridge deals and then dealing them (kapanen/johnsson) or being totally uncommittal to a young guy, like Dermott taking a pay cut for 1 year.

Lets face it, the leafs are going to have it tough next year as well, so a 1 year deal, isn't going to blossom into a big payday.

If dermott takes say just a 10% raise, and has a very good year, solid at both ends, 15-20 pts, the leafs all of a sudden aren't going to Phillipe Myers or Erk Cernak him and give him 2-3.5mil, its almost like the leafs are acting like a development squad, as he'll leave. With some of this off seasons moves, the team has gotten older, kapanen and Johnson for Vesey and Simmonds, ceci and barrie for bogosian and brodie. Not locking some of these young guys up, doesn't promise continued youth progression in the future.