Last summer, the St. Louis Blues shook up the NHL’s conventional approach to acquiring talent by signing offer sheets for two players from the Edmonton Oilers. With the cap-strapped Oilers unable to match the offers, they chose to accept draft pick compensation instead, allowing defenseman Philip Broberg, with a $4.58 million cap hit, and forward Dylan Holloway, who signed for $2.29 million, to leave. This move caught the attention of the hockey world, as NHL teams have traditionally been hesitant to target restricted free agents (RFAs) from other teams. Offer sheets, though an intriguing concept, are rarely executed, with only two players—Dustin Penner in 2007 and Jesperi Kotkaniemi in 2021—changing teams through this method during the salary cap era.
The results for the Blues have been impressive. By offering second and third-round draft picks (currently projected to be the 52nd and 86th overall picks in the upcoming draft), St. Louis acquired two young, talented players: Broberg, who has developed into a top-four defenseman, and Holloway, who has emerged as a key contributor with 62 points. The success of these moves has sparked hope that other NHL teams will reconsider the traditional reluctance to use offer sheets as a way to strengthen their rosters.
As offer sheets become a more realistic strategy for talent acquisition, the practice could encourage teams to rethink their approach to RFAs. While some general managers previously avoided offer sheets due to the culture of the NHL, things have shifted significantly in recent years. The Blues’ bold moves could lead other teams to follow suit, as the strategy becomes a more viable tool for improving team depth and acquiring valuable players at potentially lower costs than expected.
Looking ahead, the next wave of offer sheet targets could emerge from teams with cap space issues. While high-profile RFAs like Toronto’s Matthew Knies and Buffalo’s JJ Peterka may be out of reach for most teams due to their high performance and expected salaries, there are still players who fit the mold of St. Louis’ strategy—young talents on the verge of breaking out but not yet proven first-liners. Teams like the Pittsburgh Penguins, with their surplus of draft picks and cap space, could look to target these players in the offer sheet market.
One interesting prospect is Buffalo’s Jack Quinn. Despite a down season, Quinn’s potential as a versatile forward makes him an intriguing option for teams looking to make a mid-level offer. If the Penguins were to extend a contract in the $2.4–$4 million range, it could put Buffalo in a tough position, especially given their current cap structure and the emergence of younger forwards like Jiri Kulich and Zach Benson. Such a move would push Buffalo into a corner, forcing them to either overpay or let Quinn go. This type of aggressive offer sheet tactic, while risky, could yield significant rewards for the right team willing to take the gamble.
