NHL Rumor Mill – May 27, 2025
In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, we look at this summer’s notable potential offer sheet candidates, and which ones might be targeted by the Canucks and Mammoth.
THE SCORE: Sean O’Leary looked at this year’s top offer-sheet candidates.
O’Leary starts by reminding us that teams can only surrender their own draft picks as compensation, that any restricted free agent who files for arbitration by the July 5 deadline is ineligible to sign an offer sheet, and that teams have seven days to match an offer signed by their player.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: We must also remember that an RFA player must be willing to sign an offer from a rival club. Just because a player may be considered an offer-sheet candidate by fans and pundits doesn’t mean he’s interested in signing one.
Arbitration-eligible players sometimes file simply to avoid getting offers from rival clubs, preferring to focus on re-signing with their current team before their arbitration hearing dates.
O’Leary also put up the compensation tiers for the offseason (which you can see by following the link above).
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies (NHL Images).
In the “Pipe Dream” category are winger Matthew Knies of the Toronto Maple Leafs and defenseman Evan Bouchard of the Edmonton Oilers. O’Leary noted that Knies last week scoffed at the notion of signing an offer sheet. Meanwhile, Bouchard is likely reluctant to leave a contender while less than half the league has adequate draft picks to offer the Oilers the second-highest compensation level (two first-rounders, a second and a third).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: A team would have to offer up a salary between $9.36 million and $11.7 million to Bouchard to tempt him, which is the second-highest salary tier. I’ve speculated that it’ll cost the Oilers around $10 million annually to sign him. It’s worth noting that Bouchard is eligible for arbitration.
O’Leary has Winnipeg Jets forward Gabriel Vilardi and Buffalo Sabres forward JJ Peterka among his “Long shots who might be worth a try”. Others include Anaheim Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal or center Mason McTavish, and New York Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s assuming those players aren’t re-signed before July 1. Vilardi, Dostal and Dobson are arbitraiton-eligible.
One significant factor is that all those teams have plenty of salary-cap space to match an offer sheet. Unless the goal is forcing a team to spend more than they intended to re-sign the player, it’s a waste of time going that route.
As one NHL general manager pointed out (see below), it can backfire on the team making the offer, putting them in a vulnerable position for a future retaliatory offer sheet to one of their RFAs when they have limited cap space.
Marco Rossi of the Minnesota Wild and Will Cuylle of the New York Rangers fall under O’Leary’s “Cheap-value targets”.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: They’re the most likely on O’Leary’s list to receive offer sheets this summer. Both are coming off entry-level contracts and lack arbitration rights. They would also be more affordable, falling within the third-tier compensation level (a first and a second-round pick) if they receive offers between $4.68 million and $7.020 million.
The Wild have over $16 million in cap space. They can afford to match an offer for Rossi, but there have been questions about his role and his future in Minnesota. They must also ensure they have sufficient cap room beyond next season to re-sign superstar winger Kirill Kaprizov. Rossi could be traded before July 1.
Cap space is a bigger issue for the Rangers, with $8.42 million available with 19 active roster players under contract. They could move a high-priced veteran this summer to free up room to re-sign Cuylle and perhaps add a player via trade or free agency.
THE ATHLETIC: Thomas Drance and Harman Dayal looked at possible offer-sheet targets for the Vancouver Canucks. Among the players on their list was Bowen Byram of the Buffalo Sabres.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Byram is also arbitration-eligible. The Sabres are reportedly gauging his value in the trade market, which suggests he could be under contract with a new club before July 1.
THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE: Belle Fraser wondered if the Utah Mammoth might go the offer-sheet route this summer.
General manager Bill Armstrong seemed a bit hesitant when questioned about it last month. “People have to realize that when you put an offer sheet in, it has to work, it has to make sense”, said Armstrong. “It just can’t aggravate the other team because they’re going to come after you at some point in time and run up your salaries.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If you’re going to sign a player to an offer sheet, you must be sure that you will be successful, as the St. Louis Blues were last summer by signing away Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway from the cap-strapped Edmonton Oilers.
Otherwise, you get a situation as in 2019, when the Carolina Hurricanes matched an offer from the Montreal Canadiens for Sebastian Aho. Two years later, the Hurricanes successfully signed Jesperi Kotkaniemi from the Canadiens.
I expect Armstrong will make a significant addition to his roster this summer, but it’ll be through a trade or by signing an unrestricted free agent.
I’m assuming that Habs GM is talking to Anaheim and Minnesota regarding Mason McTavish and Marco Rossi to see if either could be had in a trade rather than offer sheeting.
While offer sheets spur talk it is obvious that retaliatory action will probably happen or at least attempted.
HF30: A few days ago in an exchange you countered my comment about the Habs needing skill and size by saying: doesn’t have to be all in the same player.
That was a witty rebuttal. But unconvincing, IMO.
Rossi will surely command something longer, and the Habs tend to lock up their keepers to 8 year contracts. I expect they will do exactly the same with Hutson, and likely Demidov. Even with an escalating salary cap that would be an unusually large # of core players locked up for long term and substantial $.
The only way I see Rossi coming to the Habs is if they figure they can get no other quality 2C at a 4 year or less term.
But we will see shortly, won’t we?
By the way, I was puzzled by your comments about the ice time Beck, Davidson and Kapanen were not getting in the AHL playoffs. Their stats all look good, as does Mailloux. ????
LJ.
a I pointed out that Rossi plays big for his size, is the right age to sign long term and isn’t a lightweight.
b) I pointed out that “toughness” could come from releasing Pezzetta, who gets no ice, with a UFA like Tanner Jeannot who does get some time.
c) I’ve been watching the Rocket playoffs and my concern is that Beck, Davidson and Kapanen are playing 3rd and 4th line while using Condotta, Gignac, Barre-Boulet, Harvey-
pinard and Dauphin on the top 2 lines, and they are career AHLers.
I expected them to be leading the way and forcing the Habs hand at training camp.
d) Logan Maillouxhas a good game then bad game, inconsistent in the same game. He has a big shot but other than that, poor gap, strays too far and often in the offensive zone. On defense he can’t make a first pass, is regularly caught out of position.
The D who are actually playing well are Reinbacher and to my surprise Engstrom.
e) I had also mentioned that Zacha from the Bruins would be a nice fit as a 2C and apparently picks could do it.
Well HF30, if the Bruins trade Zacha for picks, they are rebuilding, which would make me happy.
That would mean Lindholm and Mittelstadt as your top 2 C’s, with ?? as a 3C. Beecher I guess.
Sign me up!
Ray,
The other day you said that the reason the Rocket are playing the vets is because they want to win the Calder Cup.
I get that but the Rocket have the same ownership more or less as the Habs, so winning with the young studs who are knocking on the Habs door would be an imperative in my mind.
It tells me the young guys aren’t quite as ready as we the fan base think.
I don’t think the Bruins have a choice other than a rebuild, there isn’t enough for a retool and there’s an abundance of picks.
The UFA route was lauded last summer but it didn’t work out for Boston, or many others for that matter.
If a rebuild is in the cards, Neely and Sweeney need to go and whole new culture and team be built.
HF30, doubt it was me commenting on player usage for the Laval Rocket, not my area of expertise. You likely mean LJ.
But just as a general thought, I’m fine with the AHL coach playing the guys who give them the best chance to win. The young guys need to learn what that is all about and what it takes. If they were better options, they would get those minutes.
Ya, I have been banging on the rebuild drum when it comes to the Bruins as I see what you do, not much there after a few guys.
I think they get a decent return on Zacha. Demand seems much higher than supply on C’s right now. Which has probably always been true.
And Montreal, with a good prospect pool and 2 firsts this draft, seems like a good possible partner.
Rangers need to move a big contract as 8.42 is not close to what is needed to resign Cuylle, Miller, Edstrom, Rempe and a 7th defenseman
No rumblings if Panarin wants to leave NYC after his legal woes?
Ds
Not sure how true but read somewhere week or so ago rumblings of a zabinajad and a 2nd for Mittlestad of bruins. As bruins fan I would do it. But I assume it is just spitballing for clicks 🤨
that would make sense for both imho.
Zib is a streaky threat who might be moved to the third line center which could soften his stance on approving a trade. Mika bouncing back with 80pts would not be a stretch too
Kreider has a 15 team no trade clause so he would be the easier salary to move out.
Mrbruin4
Zib not going anywhere. Just sold his TH in city for a house in Connecticut,l. Just outside city, closer to practice facility. He’s got full nmc. Loves NY. Played well as JT’s right wing. Can always move back to C if they have injuries.
ds. I honestly don’t believe the payoff is an issue. Unless the media makes it one. Incident happened in 2023 and settlement included a NDA. Panarin has already made it clear it’s in the past and he won’t be talking about it. If Drury makes it clear there won’t be extension talks, he could agree to waive NMC. Florida?
yeah i agree and not sure how much will affect him or not
coming out at the end of the season the way it did was the only reason i thought maybe the rangers are softening if panarin leaves this season or in the summer. replacing his production is almost impossible
but either kreider or zib salary has to leave
I’ve been saying the same for months. Drury has to figure out how to cut a big contract.
I’ve seen reports of Cuylle being a candidate for a $4M offer sheet. Rempe, Edstrom, ZJones will probably all get $1.5M – $2M each.
And the qualifying offer for KAndre is $4.6M, and helll probably get $6M+ depending on term.
It doesn’t all fit.
He’s probably got to figure out a way to get out of 1 of Kreider, Zibanejad, Laf, or Panarin.
And of those, the easiest to move without giving up a pick or taking back a bad contract is probably Laf based on age and future potential.
@foleyd7
cant trade the young Laf unless replacing with another young player
has to be a team not on Kreiders no trade list that could use Powerplay help
Tomas Tatar’s NHL career has likely drawn to a close. The pending unrestricted free agent winger has signed a two-year contract with EV Zug of the Swiss National League, the club announced.
I think one could add Mavrick Bourque to the “cheaper” list of offer sheet RFA’s. A $4M x 2-3years would be hard for the Stars to maneuver around and they would only get a 2nd for compensation.
Fully agree Johnny Z.
The 5′ 11″ 181lb right-shot C, coming off an ELC of $894,167, could definitely be an offer sheet target, simply because it would appear the Stars are about to experience a monumental cap crunch.
When the new season rolls around, Rantanen will jump to $12,000,000, Oettnger to $8,250,000, and Wyatt Johnston to $8,400,000 and, with just under a projected $5 mil in cap space – even with the jump to $95.5 max – they have to decide on pending UFAs like Duchene, Benn, Dadonov, Granlund, Ceci, Smith and Blackwell – either sign them or find replacements just as effective. Thet also have one other RFA – RD Nils Lundqvist coming off an expiring $1,250,000.
That’s the perfect storm for a “can’t match” even minimal offer sheet.
In fact, some rebuilding team could pull a St. Louis Blues and offer-sheet both Bourque and Lundqvist who, like Bourque, was a 1st round pick.
With the new compensations at a 3rd rounder for an offer between $1,544,474 to $2,340,037, and a 2nd rounder for an offer from over $2,340,037 to $4,680,076, there could be several offer sheets.
Yes, it will be interesting times in Dallas. If Benn stays it surely will be on a much reduced contract as he has underperformed for 7 of his 8 year contract.
Even if he signed for $3 mil they still wouldn’t be able to re-up anyone else among their UFAs – nor their 2 RFAs – without first moving out a BIG contract.
So, who … and where? As for “for what?” it would have to be a pure salary dump for picks/minor-league prospects since they would not be able to bring in term players for the very reason they had to move out the big contract: no cap space.
Interesting indeed.
With the Blues Oilers last summer the fact that the Oilers had two rfas sign offer sheets is a different dynamic.
Would things have played out differently if only the oil only had to contenders with 1 offer sheet. Maybe, maybe not but it certainly compounded the oil and factored into the decisions.
Also Broberg had already requested a trade at least 1 time previously.
So there were a lot of factors that benefited Armstrong .
Teams will be on notice going into the summer. I doubt we see anyone successfully poached this summer as teams with rfa’s know what happened to the oil.
Well, look at the Stars’ situation as detailed above. How do they match offers for their 2 RFAs?
Yeah, seems like Dallas is in a tough spot and will need to trade/cut a big contract to make things work.
Puckpedia has them at $4.9M under cap but with only 8 forwards, 6 D and 2 goalies under contract.
And that doesn’t include Benn, Duchesne, Dadonov, Granlund, Bourque, Ceci, or Lundqvist who all need new contracts.
$4,548,334 is the Stars capspace next season with 17 signed and 6 more to hit 23.
A buyout for Seguin would save them next to nothing. Maybe trade Robertson for Juri Kulich or Zach Benson and Buffalo’s 1st (9th OA)
IMO. Cuylle would be priority signing for NY. Kandre Miller would be more likely to sign an offer sheet.
I think GMs looking at bennett, hyman , tkachuk etc and drool over Cuylle
Cuylle would be a great start for the Bruins to help retool their roster … grab a #3 Dman …sign Greekie and a center …
Zibanejad leaving NYR is a pipedream.
Vancouver doesn’t need LD so ny Byram
Finally, you don’t make an offer sheet unless you know it will work is a strange statement. You won’t know until it is signed, however you don’t try unless you think it most probably will work. That’s what made the Aho OS so strange, nobody thought it would work, and it didn’t
Peterka is reported as unhappy……Buffalo would welcome an offer sheet as they would match it. It would take all the work out of the ongoing contract talks! 😁👌
LEaf nation dream top 6 for the summer?
Knies Mathews Nylander
Cuylle Bennett Mantha
And that’s in technicolour, to boot!
Bruins …
They UFA sign Bennett.. Cuylle..Geekie..Fabbro..
Jeannot…
Trade Korpisalo.. sign DiPiertro
Just don’t sign him to a 15-year contract!
Johnson is retired. Dipietros are safe.
I cannot see Bennett leaving Florida.
Well, if FLA signs him, then Ekblad is gone!