NHL Offer Sheets A Possibility This Summer

NHL offer sheets are becoming more rare – mythical almost. A common practice through the 1990s (25 NHL offer sheets were offered over that span), only eight have occurred in the post salary cap era – with the most recent being Calgary’s blunder surrounding Ryan O’Reilly.

The only offer sheet not matched in the salary cap era was Edmonton’s NHL offer sheet to Anaheim’s Dustin Penner back in 2007. Players such as Shea Weber, Niklas Hjalmarsson, David Backes, Steve Bernier, and Thomas Vanek are the most recent recipients (between 2007-2012).

A pair of important factors make the fabled NHL offer sheet a reality this summer. The most obvious being the state of the salary cap. Some of the decisions GMs make is based on the assumption the salary cap should raise. Teams had some time to prepare, but the plummeting Canadian dollar, and no teams from north of the border in the playoffs were both unexpected.

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Should we be surprised that trade deadline day was so quiet? Probably not. If you look at the number of quality pending restricted free agents, it should come as little surprise that General Managers were hesitant to spend money.

Below is a list of restricted free agents a team may be able to target, specifically teams in tighter cap situations. It’s likely that most players named would have any offer sheet matched by their original club.

The compensation given to a team if an NHL offer sheet is not matched is based upon the average salary of a given season. Compensation last summer resembled the following:

$1.2 million and below – no compensation
$1.2 to $1.825 million – third round pick
$1.825 to $3.653 million – second round pick
$3.653 to $5.479 million – first and third round pick
$5.479 to $7.305 million – first, second, and third round pick
$7.305 to $9.132 million – two first, a second, and a third round pick
$9.132 million and above – four first round picks

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NHL Offer Sheet Worthy RFA’s

February 24, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks goalie Frederik Andersen (31) defends the goal against Buffalo Sabres during the first period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

D Sami Vatanen, Anaheim Ducks
G Frederik Andersen, Anaheim Ducks
D Hampus Lindholm, Anaheim Ducks
F Rickard Rakell, Anaheim Ducks

F Andrew Shaw, Chicago Blackhawks

D Tyson Barrie, Colorado Avalanche
G Calvin Pickard, Colorado Avalanche

F Riley Sheahan, Detroit Red Wings
G Petr Mrazek, Detroit Red Wings

D Matt Dumba, Minnesota Wild

F Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators

Mar 9, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Islanders forward Ryan Strome (18) shoots the puck prior to the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

F Ryan Strome, New York Islanders

D Patrick Wiercioch, Ottawa Senators
D Cody Ceci, Ottawa Senators

F Brayden Schenn, Philadelphia Flyers

F Tomas Hertl, San Jose Sharks

F Jaden Schwartz, St.Louis Blues

F Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning

F Marcus Johansson, Washington Capitals

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Which player should your team target? Which of these players is most vulnerable to being lost via offer sheet? Would it be worthwhile to target a goaltender such as Petr Mrazek, Frederik Andersen, or Calvin Pickard – all of which are in crowded goaltending situations? Or, do you target tight cap teams with Andrew Shaw, Brayden Schenn, or Nikita Kucherov? With so many young quality players looking for hefty pay raises, 2016 promises to be an exciting offseason for headlines.