Mike Hoffman filed for player-elected arbitration four days ago — but while Arizona Coyotes forward Mikkel Boedker settled his contract in enough time to avoid heading to his hearing, the Ottawa Senators centre/winger is still holding out.

The former fifth round pick exploded in his tenuously-named ‘rookie’ season; after having a stellar 2013-2014 campaign split between the Binghamton Senators and Ottawa itself, the 25 year old former fifth round pick fired off twenty-seven goals and forty-eight points in just seventy-nine games last year. He finished the year fifth overall in scoring, but took the team lead in goals over the regular season — surpassing even rookie Mark Stone and veteran forward Bobby Ryan.

Now, though, he’s in a standoff with the Senators — and there aren’t enough people talking about that.

In Ottawa’s defense, Hoffman has one very good season to go off of when getting his contract re-upped by the NHL club. Although he led the team in goals, his playmaking may not yet be quite at the top six level of most of his fellow high-producing linemates — in other words, his high totals could be potentially reliant on the figures of those around him. Like winger Reilly Smith for the Boston Bruins, Hoffman runs the risk of seeing a production slump that will parallel whatever his teammates see — and while he seems to be a good setup man on the power play, he also saw a shooting percentage that could experience a slump of its own next year.

While the Senators want to avoid overpaying Hoffman, though, the forward undoubtedly had a promising year in the AHL the season prior — and given the suggestion that he would have a high NHL ceiling with proper development out of the QMJHL, it may be unfair to lowball the forward over fear that he won’t replicate last season’s impressive results.

To look at the comparables in goal scoring for Hoffman would be absurd in terms of contract extensions. Some of the league’s other 27-goal scorers include Marian Gaborik, Logan Couture, and Patrick Kane — coming off his first full NHL season, it’s unreasonable to use just his points totals from this year as a comparable for what his extension should be.

Both Mark Stone and Mika Zibanejad looked at contract renewals that gave them $3.5M and $2.625M annual cap hits, respectively — using those as comparables within the team’s playmaking among up-and-coming players, this is the range that Hoffman should be looking at. He should see a higher cap hit than fellow arbitration applicant Alex Chiasson, but a potential expectation that his cap hit will surpass that of either Zibanejad’s or Stone’s could be what’s holding the team and Hoffman apart — and this is where the arbitrators will need to look at what sort of figures Hoffman is best served to receive.

Using statistical data to look back and evaluate his season, Hoffman’s possession stats best suggest he’s a very good second line player with first line upside. A one year, $3M to $3.5M deal may be the best fit for him while the team evaluates whether the first or second line will be a more permanent home for him.

If he’s looking for something closer to $4M, though, having a bridge deal may make the forward antsy — especially if he wants term for security — at which point the Senators need to consider whether he’s best moved before the potential bridge deal expires.

*All cap figures pulled from GeneralFanager.com*