DEAL: Bruins At Risk Of Losing Top star With Signs Of Life On NHL RFA Market
For the first time in weeks, there is some activity in the NHL offseason. According to Frank Seravalli of Daily Face-Off, the St. Louis Blues made offer sheets on Tuesday morning to restricted free agents Phillip Broberg and Dylan Holloway, both from the Edmonton Oilers.
#stlblues have tendered offer sheets to both #Oilers Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway.
Edmonton has 7 days to match the offers.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) August 13, 2024
In brief, an offer sheet allows another team to make a contract offer to a restricted free agent, who usually can’t negotiate with teams other than their current one. If the player’s current team doesn’t match the offer, the player can sign with the new team, and the old team receives draft pick compensation based on the value of the new contract.
| Offer Sheet AAV | Compensation |
| $1,415,740 or Below | None |
| $1,415,741 – $2,145,061 | 3rd Round Pick |
| $2,145,062 – $4,290,125 | 2nd Round Pick |
| $4,290,126 – $6,435,186 | 1st & 3rd Round Picks |
| $6,435,187 – $8,580,250 | 1st, 2nd & 3rd Round Picks |
| $8,580,251 – $10,725,314 | 1st (x2), 2nd & 3rd Round Picks |
| $10,725,315 and up | Four 1st Round Picks |
Offer sheets in the NHL are rarely used due to the potential for future payback, as seen in 2019 when the Carolina Hurricanes signed Jesperi Kotkaniemi from the Montreal Canadiens after the Canadiens had attempted to sign Carolina’s Sebastian Aho the year before.
Boston Bruins fans might be on alert at the mention of offer sheets, especially as the team is still negotiating with goalie Jeremy Swayman. However, the Bruins have little to worry about regarding another team trying to snag their star netminder.
Offer sheet compensation is based on the player’s new contract’s average annual value (AAV). For example, the St. Louis Blues offered Phillip Broberg $4,580,917 and Dylan Holloway $2,290,457, which would only cost them a second- and third-round pick if the Edmonton Oilers don’t match the offers. In contrast, any team hoping to sign Swayman would need to offer a much higher AAV, likely between $7.75 million and $10 million. A deal in the $8.6 million range would require the offering team to compensate the Bruins with two first-round picks, a second-round pick, and a third-round pick.
Only a few teams have the necessary draft picks and cap space to make such an offer. The Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings, and Seattle Kraken have their own restricted free agents to consider, while the Nashville Predators and New York Islanders don’t need a goalie or lack cap space. The Philadelphia Flyers are also out of cap space.
The Montreal Canadiens are the only team with both the draft capital and salary cap space to make a legitimate offer for Swayman. However, given their previous experience with offer sheets, they may be hesitant to risk it again, especially considering their history with the Bruins.