The NHL hasn’t seen an offer sheet in some time, but with an unprecedented amount of talent on the restricted free agent market this season some have speculated might be time for it to happen again. Today that speculation has turned into reporting that some teams are reaching out to at least inquire about the possibility. Darren Dreger of TSN reports that Mitch Marner’s camp has received calls from multiple teams, while Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reports on similar situations regarding Kyle Connor and Sebastian Aho. The Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets and Carolina Hurricanes remain at the forefront of any negotiations with their young free agents, but even this kind of outside contact is irregular for the NHL offseason.
Today was the first day teams could contact restricted free agents, and while it has likely happened in the past the media chatter this year has been at another level. It is important to remember that the player has to agree to sign an offer sheet and his original team is then given a chance to match it. If they choose not to, that team receives compensation in the form of draft picks depending on the value of the signed deal.
The Maple Leafs and Jets especially are in tight financial situations given their proximity to the cap ceiling, and could be at risk of an offer sheet if a team were willing to go high enough with the salary. That said, giving up a number of future draft choices just for the opportunity to overpay a player does seem quite counter-productive in terms of building a competitive team. Still, the RFA group includes some incredible talent this year that may never be available again.
If someone wants to give Marner 12+ million over 5 years let em go. I’m sure the same goes for Aho, Conner and Rantinnen
Put in better perspective: Give the Leafs 4 first-rounders (usually pretty good players, minimum), PLUS the ~$10.6+ MM, which can be legitimately viewed as TWO more pretty good players (minimum). So, SIX players for ONE??? Can Mitch really be 6x-shifted EVERY night? Probably not. Will that coach change his team into an ECHL-like 3-line team? (Holding breath now)… IT’S THE CAP ERA — HARD CAP, NOT SOFT CAP. Hey, let’s hope Kyle low-balls Marner with a $4MM two-year bridge, just to get cheap-o picks back AND cap relief. The Marner groupies in the GTA are likely to flog Kyle. It would bring back memories (nightmares) of the Richard Riots.
All it takes is one team to offer 10,550,000 for 8 years and this whole plan collapses on itself lol
SS actually it doesnt as the total amount of that contract devided by 5 is what the number would be to determine compensation.
it’s why the leafs reportedly offered 8x$10 million. it’s basically a guarantee that Marner signing elsewhere is 4 first rounders unless he’s willing to take less total money (say 10.5 million over 5 years)
Okay, but if that value comes below 10.6 mil then he’s right, they won’t receive that level of compensation.
well yes but his example had an avg value of over 16 million for the purposes of calculation for compensation.
In a 7 year deal, Marner (or any RFA this year) would have to sign for less than 7.6 million per year to not have 4 1st rounders be the offer sheet compensation. In a 6 year deal they’d have to sign for less than 8.9 million per year.
yeah not likely based on the rumours.
I would trade marner before waiting for an offer sheet! Playoff teams can afford marner and those picks could be 20-31 and you won’t find a marner type player in those picks
Silly, how many playoff teams you think would offer more than 10.6 per year that dont already have restricted free agents they are looking to sign. I see Colorado, Columbus, carolina, NYI. A couple more open up if it’s a one year deal or contracts are moved but really it seems like 4 actual playoff teams.