With the NHL salary cap finally on the rise after years of stagnation, one rarely used but powerful tool may be making a return: the NHL offer sheet. During his season-ending media availability, New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald suggested fans and teams alike should brace for more offer sheets across the league this summer.
While Fitzgerald didn’t confirm if the Devils would target any restricted free agents (RFAs), his comments were telling. “It’s a tool to improve your team,” he said. “One, you have to have the cap space. Two, you probably have to strategically target a player or players, knowing full well there’s no way a team can match.” The rise in cap space has opened the door for more aggressive front-office maneuvers.
Why NHL Teams Are Eyeing Offer Sheets This Summer
Teams with ample cap space and a competitive edge are uniquely positioned to use offer sheets to their advantage. But as Fitzgerald noted, an offer sheet only works if the player wants to move. RFAs have the power to initiate these conversations, and as we’ve seen in the past, that mutual interest is rare—but impactful.
This year’s RFA class features several intriguing names. Evan Bouchard of the Edmonton Oilers headlines the group as a high-end puck-moving defenseman coming off a strong playoff showing. Up front, J.J. Peterka (Sabres), Gabriel Vilardi (Jets), Marco Rossi (Wild), and Matthew Knies (Maple Leafs) could all draw interest from rivals.
Last offseason saw a rare two-for-one: the St. Louis Blues signed both Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway to offer sheets, which Edmonton declined to match, netting the Oilers second- and third-round picks in 2025. These were the first offer sheets since the Kotkaniemi-Aho saga between Montreal and Carolina earlier in the decade.
Still, with just four offer sheets signed in the last ten years, most GMs have been reluctant to wield this weapon. But that might be changing. With more cap flexibility and elite young talent available, expect NHL offer sheets to re-enter the spotlight this offseason.
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