(Proposal?) 5 Restricted Free Agents NHL Teams Should Sign To an Offer Sheet

[RWJC]

Highly doubt PA/JR would venture this route, but some solid names on this list that fit their reported criteria for improving the club:

 

 

(Per Bleacher Report)

 

5 Restricted Free Agents NHL Teams Should Sign To an Offer Sheet

 

The NHL's annual free-agent signing period begins at noon ET on July 13. While unrestricted free agents can sign with any team, a restricted free agent can only change clubs if he is traded, doesn't receive a qualifying offer (thus making him an unrestricted free agent) or signs an offer sheet from a rival team.

The player informs his current team once he's signed an offer sheet, giving it seven days to match it. If the club doesn't match it, he is free to join his new team, while his former squad receives a predetermined number of draft picks as compensation.

 

On May 18, the NHL released its annual average value scale for offer sheets in 2022. Per Sportsnet, the compensation is as follows:

 

$1,386,490 or below: No compensation.

 

Over $1,386,490 to $2,100,742: Third-round pick.

 

Over $2,100,742 to $4,201,488: Second-round pick.

 

Over $4,201,488 to $6,302,230: First-round pick and third-round pick.

 

Over $6,302,230 to $8,402,975: First-round pick, second-round pick, third-round pick.

 

Over $8,402,975 to $10,503,720: Two first-round picks, a second-round pick and a third-round pick.

 

Over $10,503,720: Four first-round picks.

 

General managers rarely employ the offer-sheet tactics because they're often matched. Since the salary-cap era began in 2005, only two players have been successfully signed away. Dustin Penner inked a deal with the Edmonton Oilers in 2007, and Jesperi Kotkaniemi signed with the Carolina Hurricanes last September.

 

Nevertheless, it's possible that at least one of this summer's restricted free agents, such as New York Rangers winger Kaapo Kakko, will sign one. Here's a look at Kakko and four other potential candidates teams should sign to offer sheets this offseason, including what it could cost to get a deal done.

Did you agree with our list? Did we miss anyone? Let us know in the comments section below.

 

Noah Dobson, New York Islanders

 

After two seasons of adjusting to the NHL, Noah Dobson enjoyed a breakout performance in 2021-22. The 22-year-old defenseman finished third among New York Islanders scorers with 51 points in 80 games, leading them in time on ice per game (21:28) and blocked shots (154).

 

Dobson is completing his entry-level contract and lacks arbitration rights. Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello could use that to his advantage, forcing the young blueliner to accept a two- or three-year contract worth between $2 million and $3 million per season.

 

That would leave Dobson with little leverage unless he refuses to report to training camp or signs an offer sheet worth around $5 million per year. With $12 million in salary-cap space and 18 players under contract, the Isles can afford to match. However, it wouldn't leave much to bolster an offense whose 2.79 goals-per-game average tied for 22nd in 2021-22.

 

Rival general managers could be wary of signing Dobson to an offer sheet. In November 2020, The Athletic's Eric Duhatschek indicated Lamoriello "commands a healthy level of respect—and fear—from his peer group." Still, there's always a first time for everything. Perhaps one of them will feel emboldened enough to take the chance.

 

 

Pierre-Luc Dubois, Winnipeg Jets

 

Pierre-Luc Dubois has been with the Winnipeg Jets for just one-plus season. However, the 24-year-old center is already looking ahead to unrestricted free agency. Last Wednesday,

 

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman (h/t theScore's Josh Wegman) reported that Dubois informed management of his plans to test the market in 2024.

Dubois will become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights July 13. He's completing a two-year contract he signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets before they traded him to the Jets in January 2021. His annual salary-cap hit is $5 million, though he earned $6.7 million in base salary in 2021-22.

 

The Jets have time to convince him to stick around considering his value to their roster. The 6'2", 205-pound Dubois is a versatile two-way forward who can play center or wing and puts up solid offensive numbers, tallying 28 goals and 60 points in 81 games in 2021-22.

Friedman also reported the Jets hope to keep him for a long time. However, his intent to test the 2024 UFA market could make him open to an offer sheet this summer.

 

It might cost around $8 million annually on a long-term deal to sign him. With $18 million in salary-cap space but only 13 players under contract for 2022-23, Winnipeg could be reluctant to match that type of offer.

 

 

Kaapo Kakko, New York Rangers

 

Selected by the New York Rangers with the second overall pick in 2019, Kaapo Kakko has been slow to blossom into the scoring star he was projected to become. In what was expected to be his breakout season in 2021-22, injuries limited the 21-year-old winger to 18 points in 43 games.

However, he showed signs of improvement during the 2022 playoffs, with five points in 19 games.

Kakko is completing his entry-level contract and lacks arbitration rights. The Rangers are carrying $11.9 million in cap space, with forwards Ryan Strome and Andrew Copp slated to become unrestricted free agents.

 

General manager Chris Drury could use his leverage to sign Kakko to a two-year bridge deal worth around $2.5 million annually in hope of leaving enough cap room for Strome or Copp.

 

However, there's concern among some Rangers followers that Kakko could sign an offer sheet. Following the Blueshirts' elimination from the Eastern Conference Final, the New York Post's Larry Brooks observed the young winger was a healthy scratch in the series-ending Game 6 defeat. He wondered if that might make Kakko willing to entertain offers from rival clubs.

 

Earlier this month, Kakko seemed to downplay that idea.

"I like to play here, so I don't think so,” he told reporters.

 

Nevertheless, a rival GM could explore that option to see what it would take to pry the young Finn away from the Rangers.

 

 

Andrew Mangiapane, Calgary Flames

 

The Calgary Flames have two stars to sign in Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk. Both are coming off career-best performances and could cost a combined $18 million to re-sign, taking a big chunk out of the Flames' $26.9 million in cap space for 2022-23. That could make it difficult to re-sign Andrew Mangiapane.

 

A versatile, hard-working forward who can skate on either wing, the 26-year-old Mangiapane is completing a two-year contract worth $2.4 million per season. A restricted free agent with arbitration rights, he's also a year away from unrestricted free-agent eligibility.

 

Mangiapane has steadily developed into a reliable second-line scorer for the Flames. He netted 17 goals in 68 games in 2019-20 and 18 goals in 56 games during the coronavirus-shortened schedule in 2020-21. Last season, he tallied a career-best 35 goals along with 55 points to finish fourth among Flames scorers.

 

Should Gaudreau and Tkachuk sign contract extensions, a rival team could approach Mangiapane with an offer sheet worth $5.5 million per season. That could prove too expensive for the Flames to match, as it would leave little remaining cap space to fill out the rest of their roster, including signing RFA defenseman Oliver Kylington to a new deal.

 

 

Martin Necas, Carolina Hurricanes

 

A 41-point performance in 53 games by Martin Necas during the shortened 2020-21 campaign raised expectations of a breakthrough performance by the Carolina Hurricanes forward. Instead, he managed 40 points in 78 games and was held to just five assists in 14 playoff contests last season.

 

According to the News & Observer's Chip Alexander, Necas said earlier this month that he and head coach Rod Brind'Amour need to trust each other more. The 23-year-old forward is coming off an entry-level contract and lacks arbitration rights. He indicated he'd like to stay, but Alexander speculated he could be playing elsewhere next season.

Necas could become a trade candidate if he and Hurricanes management fail to work out a suitable agreement. It could also entice a rival club seeking a promising young scoring forward to pitch him an offer sheet.

 

Given Necas' lack of leverage, an offer sheet worth $4.5 million per season would be a more lucrative deal than what he might otherwise get with the Hurricanes. With $19.4 million in salary-cap space and free agents such as Tony DeAngelo, Vincent Trocheck and Nino Niederreiter to re-sign or replace, Carolina might be unable or unwilling to match.

 

 

Edited June 30, 2022 by RWJC

[Ghostsof1915]

Ask Montreal how offer sheets went for them? 

[RWJC]

Just now, Ghostsof1915 said:

Ask Montreal how offer sheets went for them? 

I agree, it’s bound to backfire, but truthfully I wish it was more commonplace as a competitive tool. 
Would make things that much more interesting each year. 

[Nucker 67]

I'd take any one of those guys on the Canucks, but not sure about Mangiapane

 

I don't get it. In his Draft year, Mangiapane got 104 points in 68 games, and wasn't picked until the 6th round (#166)!  So, what was the issue? His size? He does play a feisty, fast game, but I'd prefer they target bigger/tougher players

[RWJC]

1 hour ago, NUCKER67 said:

I'd take any one of those guys on the Canucks, but not sure about Mangiapane

 

I don't get it. In his Draft year, Mangiapane got 104 points in 68 games, and wasn't picked until the 6th round (#166)!  So, what was the issue? His size? He does play a feisty, fast game, but I'd prefer they target bigger/tougher players

Yeah it would have to have been size. Tons of small players that put up big pts in junior but amount to little when playing against size, strength and speed of pro/minor pro level. IIRC, him being “undersized” was always the first descriptor/label used when considering his pending draft status. 
 

Lots of exceptions too, but reality (true or not) is larger is often deemed more durable when it comes to a physical game, right?

 

 

 

Edited June 30, 2022 by RWJC

[Pears]

Dobson is pretty much the only one I’d have no issues paying one of the higher compensations for. Roy is my #1 choice though. 

[Kobayashi Maru]

I'd pay the compensation for Dobson up to 6.3M if that's what it took, and to be honest, I think Kakko has the tools and would pay the compensation on up to 4.2M.  Would be a bigger risk, but if all it costs you is some cap and a 2nd, it's still worth it.  Just move Pearson out in a corresponding move and reclaim most of the cap and get a 3rd/4th back. 

[wildcam]

3 hours ago, RWJC said:

Highly doubt PA/JR would venture this route, but some solid names on this list that fit their reported criteria for improving the club:

 

 

(Per Bleacher Report)

 

5 Restricted Free Agents NHL Teams Should Sign To an Offer Sheet

 

The NHL's annual free-agent signing period begins at noon ET on July 13. While unrestricted free agents can sign with any team, a restricted free agent can only change clubs if he is traded, doesn't receive a qualifying offer (thus making him an unrestricted free agent) or signs an offer sheet from a rival team.

The player informs his current team once he's signed an offer sheet, giving it seven days to match it. If the club doesn't match it, he is free to join his new team, while his former squad receives a predetermined number of draft picks as compensation.

 

On May 18, the NHL released its annual average value scale for offer sheets in 2022. Per Sportsnet, the compensation is as follows:

 

$1,386,490 or below: No compensation.

 

Over $1,386,490 to $2,100,742: Third-round pick.

 

Over $2,100,742 to $4,201,488: Second-round pick.

 

Over $4,201,488 to $6,302,230: First-round pick and third-round pick.

 

Over $6,302,230 to $8,402,975: First-round pick, second-round pick, third-round pick.

 

Over $8,402,975 to $10,503,720: Two first-round picks, a second-round pick and a third-round pick.

 

Over $10,503,720: Four first-round picks.

 

General managers rarely employ the offer-sheet tactics because they're often matched. Since the salary-cap era began in 2005, only two players have been successfully signed away. Dustin Penner inked a deal with the Edmonton Oilers in 2007, and Jesperi Kotkaniemi signed with the Carolina Hurricanes last September.

 

Nevertheless, it's possible that at least one of this summer's restricted free agents, such as New York Rangers winger Kaapo Kakko, will sign one. Here's a look at Kakko and four other potential candidates teams should sign to offer sheets this offseason, including what it could cost to get a deal done.

Did you agree with our list? Did we miss anyone? Let us know in the comments section below.

 

Noah Dobson, New York Islanders

 

After two seasons of adjusting to the NHL, Noah Dobson enjoyed a breakout performance in 2021-22. The 22-year-old defenseman finished third among New York Islanders scorers with 51 points in 80 games, leading them in time on ice per game (21:28) and blocked shots (154).

 

Dobson is completing his entry-level contract and lacks arbitration rights. Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello could use that to his advantage, forcing the young blueliner to accept a two- or three-year contract worth between $2 million and $3 million per season.

 

That would leave Dobson with little leverage unless he refuses to report to training camp or signs an offer sheet worth around $5 million per year. With $12 million in salary-cap space and 18 players under contract, the Isles can afford to match. However, it wouldn't leave much to bolster an offense whose 2.79 goals-per-game average tied for 22nd in 2021-22.

 

Rival general managers could be wary of signing Dobson to an offer sheet. In November 2020, The Athletic's Eric Duhatschek indicated Lamoriello "commands a healthy level of respect—and fear—from his peer group." Still, there's always a first time for everything. Perhaps one of them will feel emboldened enough to take the chance.

 

 

Pierre-Luc Dubois, Winnipeg Jets

 

Pierre-Luc Dubois has been with the Winnipeg Jets for just one-plus season. However, the 24-year-old center is already looking ahead to unrestricted free agency. Last Wednesday,

 

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman (h/t theScore's Josh Wegman) reported that Dubois informed management of his plans to test the market in 2024.

Dubois will become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights July 13. He's completing a two-year contract he signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets before they traded him to the Jets in January 2021. His annual salary-cap hit is $5 million, though he earned $6.7 million in base salary in 2021-22.

 

The Jets have time to convince him to stick around considering his value to their roster. The 6'2", 205-pound Dubois is a versatile two-way forward who can play center or wing and puts up solid offensive numbers, tallying 28 goals and 60 points in 81 games in 2021-22.

Friedman also reported the Jets hope to keep him for a long time. However, his intent to test the 2024 UFA market could make him open to an offer sheet this summer.

 

It might cost around $8 million annually on a long-term deal to sign him. With $18 million in salary-cap space but only 13 players under contract for 2022-23, Winnipeg could be reluctant to match that type of offer.

 

 

Kaapo Kakko, New York Rangers

 

Selected by the New York Rangers with the second overall pick in 2019, Kaapo Kakko has been slow to blossom into the scoring star he was projected to become. In what was expected to be his breakout season in 2021-22, injuries limited the 21-year-old winger to 18 points in 43 games.

However, he showed signs of improvement during the 2022 playoffs, with five points in 19 games.

Kakko is completing his entry-level contract and lacks arbitration rights. The Rangers are carrying $11.9 million in cap space, with forwards Ryan Strome and Andrew Copp slated to become unrestricted free agents.

 

General manager Chris Drury could use his leverage to sign Kakko to a two-year bridge deal worth around $2.5 million annually in hope of leaving enough cap room for Strome or Copp.

 

However, there's concern among some Rangers followers that Kakko could sign an offer sheet. Following the Blueshirts' elimination from the Eastern Conference Final, the New York Post's Larry Brooks observed the young winger was a healthy scratch in the series-ending Game 6 defeat. He wondered if that might make Kakko willing to entertain offers from rival clubs.

 

Earlier this month, Kakko seemed to downplay that idea.

"I like to play here, so I don't think so,” he told reporters.

 

Nevertheless, a rival GM could explore that option to see what it would take to pry the young Finn away from the Rangers.

 

 

Andrew Mangiapane, Calgary Flames

 

The Calgary Flames have two stars to sign in Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk. Both are coming off career-best performances and could cost a combined $18 million to re-sign, taking a big chunk out of the Flames' $26.9 million in cap space for 2022-23. That could make it difficult to re-sign Andrew Mangiapane.

 

A versatile, hard-working forward who can skate on either wing, the 26-year-old Mangiapane is completing a two-year contract worth $2.4 million per season. A restricted free agent with arbitration rights, he's also a year away from unrestricted free-agent eligibility.

 

Mangiapane has steadily developed into a reliable second-line scorer for the Flames. He netted 17 goals in 68 games in 2019-20 and 18 goals in 56 games during the coronavirus-shortened schedule in 2020-21. Last season, he tallied a career-best 35 goals along with 55 points to finish fourth among Flames scorers.

 

Should Gaudreau and Tkachuk sign contract extensions, a rival team could approach Mangiapane with an offer sheet worth $5.5 million per season. That could prove too expensive for the Flames to match, as it would leave little remaining cap space to fill out the rest of their roster, including signing RFA defenseman Oliver Kylington to a new deal.

 

 

Martin Necas, Carolina Hurricanes

 

A 41-point performance in 53 games by Martin Necas during the shortened 2020-21 campaign raised expectations of a breakthrough performance by the Carolina Hurricanes forward. Instead, he managed 40 points in 78 games and was held to just five assists in 14 playoff contests last season.

 

According to the News & Observer's Chip Alexander, Necas said earlier this month that he and head coach Rod Brind'Amour need to trust each other more. The 23-year-old forward is coming off an entry-level contract and lacks arbitration rights. He indicated he'd like to stay, but Alexander speculated he could be playing elsewhere next season.

Necas could become a trade candidate if he and Hurricanes management fail to work out a suitable agreement. It could also entice a rival club seeking a promising young scoring forward to pitch him an offer sheet.

 

Given Necas' lack of leverage, an offer sheet worth $4.5 million per season would be a more lucrative deal than what he might otherwise get with the Hurricanes. With $19.4 million in salary-cap space and free agents such as Tony DeAngelo, Vincent Trocheck and Nino Niederreiter to re-sign or replace, Carolina might be unable or unwilling to match.

 

 

Well in most cases team will match any offer sheet.. NYI will never let Dobson 23, 6'3 RD --53 point this season-- NYI have 13 million-- NYI  7 yrs X 7.8 million

[DownUndaCanuck]

There's better ways to get our top young RD, there's no way NYI let Dobson go when he's only 23 and leading their defence already, and it'll just make Allvin look like a fool across the league. Not a move for a rookie GM.

[HorvatToBaertschi]

Throw all the money at Dobson. 

[Alflives]

Wouldn’t these guys be more traded for then offer sheet, except Dobson?

I can see us trying to get Kakko.

[JM_]

13 hours ago, Ghostsof1915 said:

Ask Montreal how offer sheets went for them? 

kind of a wash imo. Kockamamie turned out to be not much of a loss and they got another C out of it. 

 

I don't belive that not offer sheeting a team provides you with protection, if the conditions are right another GM will take advantage. 

[Ghostsof1915]

Offer sheets only work if your team has an internal cap that's $10-12 million below the league cap. Because basically you make an offer sheet. In the remote chance you 

get what you want. The moment any of our players become RFA's, the other team will retaliate. So in Vancouver's case bye bye Podz because we won't have any cap room. 

 

All it does is raise players salaries above what they normally would get. Most GM's who have tried the Offer Sheet route (unless its retaliation) usually lose their jobs shortly after.

 

Not to mention it's not like Vancouver has a ton of draft picks to spend. Offer sheets are for desperate GM's clinging on to their jobs by a thread. 

 

Fun to think about. But just not practical. 

Edited June 30, 2022 by Ghostsof1915

[JM_]

2 hours ago, Ghostsof1915 said:

Offer sheets only work if your team has an internal cap that's $10-12 below the league cap. Because basically you make an offer sheet. In the remote chance you 

get what you want. The moment any of our players become RFA's, the other team will retaliate. So in Vancouver's case bye bye Podz because we won't have any cap room. 

 

All it does is raise players salaries above what they normally would get. Most GM's who have tried the Offer Sheet route (unless its retaliation) usually lose their jobs shortly after.

 

Not to mention it's not like Vancouver has a ton of draft picks to spend. Offer sheets are for desperate GM's clinging on to their jobs by a thread. 

 

Fun to think about. But just not practical. 

You need to have your core guys locked down through your teams window as well. But say we moved Miller and Myers for 2023 and 2024 picks. Good chance those picks are very close or better than the ones we'd lose to get Dobson. I'd risk it for him.

 

[Elias Pettersson]

13 hours ago, Ghostsof1915 said:

Offer sheets only work if your team has an internal cap that's $10-12 million below the league cap. Because basically you make an offer sheet. In the remote chance you 

get what you want. The moment any of our players become RFA's, the other team will retaliate. So in Vancouver's case bye bye Podz because we won't have any cap room. 

 

All it does is raise players salaries above what they normally would get. Most GM's who have tried the Offer Sheet route (unless its retaliation) usually lose their jobs shortly after.

 

Not to mention it's not like Vancouver has a ton of draft picks to spend. Offer sheets are for desperate GM's clinging on to their jobs by a thread. 

 

Fun to think about. But just not practical. 

 

[Provost]

I don't think we should be in the business of offer sheets considering our cap situation, but someone could sure screw with Toronto by putting in offer sheets for Sandin and Kase.  They could get pretty low offer sheets that would be good deals for the teams making the offer and also give virtually no return as compensation.

[Hairy Kneel]

How about a flyer on geerston in NJ a big guy on d

league min