Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Braden Holtby and Marcus Johansson filed for arbitration prior to the 5:00 pm deadline today (July 5th).    Salary arbitration hearings will take place in Toronto from July 20 to Aug. 4. Exact dates for each player to be announced.  It should be noted that last year, 19 of 20 player-elected arbitration cases were settled before scheduled hearings, so they’re not often needed.

For Braden Holtby, the sides have been apart on money. Some reports have stated that the Caps were looking at about $5 million a year, and rumors are that the Holtby camp is looking for $6 million or more.  For reference: Rask, Rinne, Bobrovsky are $7, $7 and $7.425 million respectively. Lundqvist gets $8.5 million a year.  It was reported earlier this week that although the sides were apart on money, Braden Holtby’s agent, David Kaye of The Sports Corporation, felt a deal would get done by today’s deadline.

For Marcus Johansson, his agent filed for arbitration on Friday, two days before the deadline. It was rumored that Johansson was looking for $4 million per year. Johansson made $2 million last season.  Alex Prewitt reports because he has already spent five seasons in the league since the Capitals drafted him 24th overall in 2009, a two-year deal would make Johansson an unrestricted free agent at its conclusion.

If the hearing is heard, Caps choose whether it’s a 1- or 2-year deal being discussed, since Holtby filed.