Last summer, a rare occurrence happened in the NHL when the St. Louis Blues sent two offer sheets to the Edmonton Oilers and were eventually successful in acquiring forward Dylan Holloway and defenseman Philip Broberg. It was unprecedented as teams rarely utilize the offer sheet option, but they could this summer as plenty of impact players will be restricted free agents. Some big names could be in play, but teams may be unwilling to part with a first-round pick when phenom Gavin McKenna is the prized prospect of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. Who will be targeted is anyone’s guess, so our compilation will focus on the most probable candidates to receive an offer sheet, rather than the most impactful. Let’s take a look at who the options are.
Noah Dobson would be at the top of most teams’ lists. However, the Islanders will likely be willing to pay close to $9MM to retain Dobson’s services and shouldn’t have any problem doing so, as they have nearly $29MM in available cap space for next season (as per PuckPedia). While Dobson’s extension should get settled quickly, Edmonton’s Evan Bouchard is one defenseman whose contract situation could become problematic. The Oilers know they will likely need to get to eight figures to retain Bouchard. However, you’d never guess that by the predicament they are in when it comes to the summer. The Oilers are projected to have just $13.5MM in cap space, with 18 players signed for next season. If Bouchard were to sign for $10MM, it would leave Edmonton with just $3.5MM to sign four players, meaning it could pay just the league minimum to fill out its depth.
Most teams would love to sign Bouchard, but how many teams with the cap space and draft pick assets are in a position where they can safely assume that their 2026 first-round pick won’t be a lottery pick? There aren’t many, which will be a significant consideration for any team considering using an offer sheet. A Bouchard offer sheet would need to come in north of $10MM, meaning the team trying to pry him loose would have to be willing to give up their 2026 and 2027 first-round picks and their 2026 second and third-rounders. Only nine teams currently have that capability, which is likely why the Oilers don’t appear overly concerned.
Dropping down a tier is Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies, who makes for an interesting scenario, given that he won’t be the team’s biggest priority this summer when it comes to contract negotiations. Toronto has to deal with Mitch Marner’s and John Tavares’ UFA status and has just $27.5MM in available cap space. Toronto could be vulnerable when it comes to Knies. If a team were to drop an offer sheet to Knies in the $6.5MM range, it would cost them a first and a third-round pick and leave Toronto strapped when it comes to filling out their depth.
New York Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller is another name to watch. The Rangers will look to retain the defender, but there is no suitable replacement for their left side. The 24-year-old brings a solid combination of mobility, size, and offensive capabilities and is an ideal second-pairing defenseman. The problem for the Rangers is that they have just $9.67MM in cap space with 18 players signed and will have to sign a handful of other RFAs. If a team were willing to go to $6MM for Miller, they could likely pluck Miller loose from the Rangers for a first and third-round pick. However, it seems unlikely a team would do that with the strength of next year’s entry draft and the warts in Miller’s game.
Sticking with the Rangers, they could be vulnerable to the same fate as the Oilers were last summer with Miller and forward Will Cuylle. Cuylle is having a breakout campaign this season with 20 goals and 44 points through 81 games. With the Rangers facing tight salary cap constraints, teams could see an opening with Cuylle and offer him a deal in the $4MM range, requiring just a second-round draft pick in compensation. This scenario seems one of the likeliest to happen, as many teams have the necessary compensation and salary cap space to make this move.
Finally, the most intriguing player, and one on whom teams may be willing to gamble, is Buffalo Sabres forward JJ Peterka. Peterka has nearly become a point-per-game player this season and hasn’t reached his prime yet, which suggests he has more to offer. The 23-year-old should receive an extension north of $7MM per season, but that’s where it gets interesting; Buffalo has the cap space to re-up but hasn’t yet. If it spills into the summer, teams might be willing to go to the upper limits of the $6,871,374 – $9,161,834 range and offer Peterka a deal in the $8MM range, which would force the Sabres to go higher than they’d like or lose the emerging forward for a first, second, and third-round pick. It seems unlikely that the Sabres would let that happen, but Buffalo does have other RFAs to be concerned about and will also be looking to improve their roster through trades and free agency. If they let Peterka’s contract negotiations drag into the summer, it could become a strategic blunder that leads to them overpaying the forward or watching him walk for draft pick compensation.
Photo by Walter Tychnowicz-USA TODAY Sports
The Sabres? Make a strategic blunder? Never!
/sarcasm
Who are the 9 teams with the picks to offer sheet Bouchard?
if the leafs don’t beat the Sens in round one, and maybe even win round 2, expect a major shakeup. I think it would mean keeping knies but letting Marner or Taveras walk. I think it would also spur convos about Rielly
Agreed. I think they’d let Marner walk as they don’t have a 2nd line C. If Bennett is still a ufa, target him at $6 x 6. Tavares signs for $6×3? Also there’s Duchene available although hard to see him leave Texas.
Neither of those players are signing in Toronto for only $6m. Take a moment to reset your expectations.
Tavares isn’t signing for $6 MM. He’s still a premier scorer, and SOMEone will offer him $8-5.-9 MM x2 anyway.
@Mtog – Sam Bennett for $6M?!…He’s projected to hit $8M on the open market. Furthermore, Toronto typically has to pay more to get high-end players to come there to start with. They had to practically break the bank just to keep Matthews & Nylander as neither gave Toronto a discount. I doubt Bennett goes to Toronto.
Also, John Tavares isn’t settling for $6M either. Your expectations are not realistic at least in terms of contractual conditions.
You left out an obvious target in Mason mctavish.
Why would the Ducks fail to match an offer sheet for their leading center in ice time this season? They have almost 40 mil in cap space? In what universe is that obvious?
I would love for my team to go after Will Cuylle. He’s a solid mid-six young talent with some real grit to his game. It’s easy compensation with it being just a 2nd round pick too. I guess only time will tell as the offseason is in many ways unpredictable.
Drury should resign if he lets Cuylle go at that price / comp. I have my issues with the way he’s running the team, but Cuylle fits the exact identity he’s seemingly trying to build around
Cuylle is a RFA as teams are going to put offer sheets up for him as either the Rangers match it or lose him. They’re tight on cap going into the offseason, so it could be a real challenge for the Rangers to keep him. I think there is a high probability of Cuylle playing somewhere else next season. Only time will tell how it unfolds.
Bouchard to Carolina for a first
Ryan McLeod will get an offer.
Samoskevich seems like a candidate
I suspect Florida will keep him since all signs are strongly pointing to Sam Bennett leaving Florida this offseason for starters. Florida is going to need some cheap deals to fill out its roster this offseason & Mackie Samoskevich is a strong option to fill out a roster spot.
Why would anyone who has seen Bouchard play offer 10 million. You better have a Ekholm to play with him. If I am kings I am dumping puck in Bouchard corner .