NHL Rumor Mill – April 4, 2025
Will there be more offer-sheet attempts this summer? Could the Devils be among the clubs targeting other clubs’ RFAs? What’s the latest on the Islanders? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
WILL THERE BE MORE OFFER-SHEET ATTEMPTS THIS SUMMER?
THE ATHLETIC: Michael Russo and Chris Johnston report some NHL executives and general managers bracing for “a summer of offer sheets” during the 2025 offseason.
They cite the rising salary cap, the St. Louis Blues’ bold signings of Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg from the Edmonton Oilers last summer, and the lack of quality depth among this summer’s unrestricted free-agent class.
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies (NHL Images).
According to PuckPedia, 88 of 95 potential restricted free agents are eligible to sign offer sheets. They include Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard, Toronto Maple Leafs winger Matthew Knies, Minnesota Wild center Marco Rossi, New York Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller and forward Will Cullye, New York Islanders blueliners Noah Dobson and Alexander Romanov, and Buffalo Sabres forward JJ Peterka and defenseman Bowen Byram.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some of those players could be targeted for offer sheets this summer. However, Russo and Johnston also cited several general managers pointing out that the rising cap can make it easier for clubs to match if one of their players signs an offer sheet.
Johnston recently suggested that mid-tier or emerging talent is more vulnerable than established stars. That’s because contending teams want to avoid overpaying those players. Johnston cited Holloway and Broberg as notable examples.
COULD THE DEVILS GO THE OFFER-SHEET ROUTE THIS SUMMER?
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Citing The Athletic report on the potential for a rise in offer sheets this summer, James Nichols pondered the possibility for the Devils.
In The Athletic piece, Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald seemed to suggest he could be interested in going that route if the opportunity arose.
Nichols believes the Devils need to bolster their forward depth. He suggested Ottawa Senators (and former Devil) winger Fabian Zetterlund, Seattle Kraken winger Kaapo Kakko, and Winnipeg Jets forward Gabriel Vilardi as possible options.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Devils might not have the cap room to sign a rival player to an offer sheet. They have a projected $13.8 million available for 2025-26 with 18 active roster players under contract. Rising star Luke Hughes is a restricted free agent coming off his entry-level contract. Re-signing him could eat roughly half of that cap room.
THE LATEST ON THE ISLANDERS
THE ATHLETIC: Arthur Staple believes the harsh public criticism New York Islanders head coach Patrick Roy levied on struggling winger Anthony Duclair is a sign of worsening times for the club.
Duclair signed with the Islanders last summer. He played with Roy in the QMJHL so he knew what he was getting into. He started the season well but was sidelined for 29 games by a torn groin and hasn’t been the same since.
Staple believes Duclair will be staying because he has three years left on his contract. Roy has a multi-year extension and isn’t leaving unless he wants to. General manager Lou Lamoriello is likely sticking around for at least one more year.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Duclair has been granted a leave of absence to reflect following what Roy called a “good conversation” between the two on Thursday morning. Nevertheless, it’ll be interesting to see if this incident has any effect on the club’s offseason plans.
NJ will have plenty of cap space to field an offer sheet if they trade Dougie Hamelton. Their RS D is very crowded.
don’t see Hamilton getting traded. His big shot from the PP is needed on that team. But the coaching staff need to determine how Hamilton and L.Hughes factor into the PP. Hamilton was running the top unit and Luke the 2nd unit before DH got hurt
Devils need to address their forward depth. There are no forward options in Utica (AHL) that can play in the top 6, and considering Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier’s injury history, they need a viable option. Dawson Mercer is at best a 2nd liner, and has been more effective at RW in the NHL, Erik Haula probably won’t return, and has been moved from C to LW in the 2nd half. Top forward prospects like Gritsyuk (KHL) are wingers.
Who would want Hamilton? He s made of porcelain,hurt every year.Very sort in the D zone.Not really a number 1,closer to a 2-3.
Although teams will have more cap room with which to match some qualifying offers, it could also make it difficult for them to sign other RFAs and maybe a UFA or more they wish to retain with offers.
In that scenario, competing GMs within a Division could extend offers with the thinking that, if the other G M doesn’t match for that reason, they get a good player, but if they do match, it makes it that much tougher for the rival to flesh out his roster.
Another factor George will be whether teams will want to spend to the cap. Not every team will be comfortable spending 92 million and that could affect both teams making the offer sheets and the teams having to decide whether to match. People are assuming that every team will be willing to use all that cap space
Very valid point, Yogi .. and definitely an important factor in terms of offer sheets
The media are enflaming us with the Holloway/Broberg offer sheets. Yes, those have worked out well – this year.
But this is typical media recency bias. Are any of these pundits mentioning how Carolina did by signing Kotkaniemi? And how the Habs did as a result of getting the draft picks they did as a result?
Agree LJ, if you overpay guys so the teams won’t match, then you just overpaid a guy didn’t you?
Edmonton exposed themselves because nobody was doing it, and got caught. IMO it was fear of retribution that hardly anybody was doing it. I think that is still true. And I still do believe Carolina did that because the Habs went after Aho. Did anybody win that exchange? Nope.
Maybe Edmonton targets ex Oil King Neighbors out of STL for payback.
So if teams offer sheet guys to drive up competitors salaries, get ready for it coming your way. Drives up the comparables for the arbitration hearings too, and salaries overall for RFA’s.
Careful what you wish for IMO. But hey, I could be wrong and we see a bunch now. Teams like Florida might get hit because they will struggle matching. But I struggle to believe it will be widespread.
The Devils do not have their 1st round pick for the 2025 draft so the best they can do is offer sheet a player with a max salary of $4.58 million per year. Anyone demanding a higher salary requires at least a first round pick as compensation and that pick must be their own, not one they received via trades.
don’t see it happening for NJ. For a RFA, you need to own your own 1st rounder, can’t surrender a pick acquired from another team. Fitzgerald would need to sign someone like the Blues did with Holloway/Broberg, but with the higher cap teams will be more likely to match any offer sheets. Probably need to concentrate on trades or other UFAs
@Gored1970 the 2025 picks have nothing to do with this years offer sheets, 2026 is the year you need to look at
correct Yogi…particularly because signing season is AFTER the draft 🙂
It should be open season on RFA S. Players now have an option to get a good deal on the market. If the original team matches,that drives up their team salary structure! I think these players today are held hostage by their entry level contract.
As much as press folks want to see more offer sheeting for the drama – I think St.Louis’ success from last year’s thievery with Edmonton could lead to more matching or locking up from clubs with RFAs……not less.
Dark G, yep.
Dubas ABSOLUTELYshould go the offer sheet route
Pens have their own pics in ‘26
Known commodities (RFAs) for unknown futures (picks) is an easy decision
Yes it takes 2 signatures for an offer sheet
I don’t at all mind an overpay to gain an RFA; and accelerate the rebuild/retool
Blues move last year was very smart
I’d go strong at Vilardi
Hindsight is always 20/20 but the Offer Sheets submitted by the Blues to Broeberg and Holloway could have – and should have – been matched last year by the Oilers.
Both were brought up through the Oiler system making them home grown and not particularly expensive. The cap-strapped Oiler organization couldn’t even “splurge” $2M per for Holloway and the Oilers revealed itself as a poor management group.
It will be interesting to see how they deal with Evan Bouchard this summer. Many are saying he will command Darnell Nurse type money ($9.25M) if not more; matching that would be another big mistake under the Offer Sheet category. If an Offer in that range does materialize, the Oilers would better off this time and once again to walk away from it and take the draft pick compensation.
Ya Francois, not signing Holloway looks bad now, because they could have pretty easily once they moved Ceci. Signing both was tricky because they didn’t know when Kane was going to be back, and that’s not an easy trade to make when he isn’t healthy or mid season with his NTC, for half the league.
Oil need to get healthy, now Draisaitl is out again? Sheesh. If they don’t get those key guys back and not at at least 95%, can’t see them getting past LA and Vegas.
@George
Leaf Nation owes a huge thank you for the Senators performance last night against Tampa
Norm Ullman in net was outstanding , lol
That’s why Staios went out and got him, Ken.
Norm Ullman … geez, there’s a name from the distant past!
I’m an outlier on offer sheets to RFA players as teams put a lot of money into drafting, monitoring, increasing skill levels, pretty much molding the players into their needs and systems.
The players have the opportunity to become UFA and flex for freedom at a young age as it is, typically 25.
Once we accept the concept of a draft that essentially ties a players entry to a particular team, the team should be rewarded for their investment in that players development.
Eric Lindros didn’t feel too tied to the team that drafted him, did he?
That is a ridiculous example.
Is it? No player, even freshly drafted, is obligated to stay with the organization. They have a choice. From the moment they are drafted, they have a choice, just like anyone in any job.
Gm’s better not try the low ball route.
I believe that to be the case with Oilers and Holloway and Broberg. They sign Skinner instead who will be gone next year.
The plan all along with EKane was to sit out the season or most of it to sign a D which turned out to be Walman.