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Agent: Cap-Strapped Teams Beware Offer Sheet |
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In years past, prying RFA players away from their existing teams via the offer sheet was tough because it was a near certainty that the team that held the player's rights would match theoffer sheet. We saw it with Thomas Vanek and Edmonton. Years later, we saw it again with Ryan O'Reilly and Colorado.
Today there may be an appetite to offer sheet young stars like Tyler Toffoli, Brandon Saad Vlad Tarasenko, Alex Galchenyuk, Jonathon, Huberdeau, Carl Hagelin, Mikael Granlund, Mika Zibanejad, Braden Holtby, Nazem Kadri, Dougie Hamilton, Teemu Pulkkinen and others because their existing teams will not match the offer due to financial constraints that are being caused by the declining Canadian dollar and the projected flat NHL salary cap.
Let's say you are an eager, aggressive GM of an NHL team that is re-building and has the luxury of having unlimited salary cap space. Tim Murray and Pete Chiarelli come to mind.
You may want to present an offer sheet to LA, Chicago, St. Louis and Toronto for their young stars Toffoli, Saad, Tarasenko and Kadri, respectively. The reason is that the odds will be very favorable that that the offer sheets will not be matched. GMs have will have eyes that are bigger than their stomachs. And their available salary cap space.
NHL player agent Steve Bartlett represented Vanek when the Edmonton Oilers offer sheeted the Sabres sniper in the recent past. The Sabres matched Kevin Lowe's offer shet and retained the 40 goal scorer and then signed him to a lucrative seven year contract.
Today, Bartlett joined Andrew Peters and Kevin Sylvester on Sabres Hockey Hotline in Buffalo. Bartlett said that the Summer 2015 forecast may be calling for offer sheets.
“Well, as I said way back when the Vanek one kind of broke through that barrier, I think the biggest disincentive in years past were that teams just figured everybody was going to match. But the reality is the tighter the cap, the tighter teams are against the cap, it does open up more and more opportunity for a player to get an offer sheet and the team, no matter how much they would like to keep him, will not be in a position to match.
“So if I was guessing, I don’t think there’s going to be a huge explosion of them, but I think there may be more and more situations where a player with a team who can’t afford to even pay him what would be considered reasonable market value may have to turn to hoping he can get an offer sheet in order to get that because his own existing team can’t afford to match or meet the offer that he may get.”
NHL GMs with star restricted free agents and tight salary cap space beware.
If offer sheets are not extended, we will see a massive player dump after training camps break. Meaningful and impactful veteran players will be available via trade for prospects and assets simply so the cap-strapped GM can bring in his roister at or below budget. GMs know that they can play at 10% above the salary cap during the summer months, however, once September hits, it's back to cap compliance. At that time, contending teams will be looking to subtract popular players with high cap hits. For example, Chicago's Patrick Sharp and Bryan Bickell. Bother players have figured prominently to the two Stanley Cups that the Blackhawks have won in the past five years. Hell, they are just three wins away from winning their unprecedented third Cup in the past six seasons. After the lift comes the letdown. Sharp and Bickell are earning $4+ million per season moving forward and Stan Bowman won't be able to afford them after he re-signs RFA Brandon Saad this summer. Patrick Kane and Jonathon Toews signed ginormous new contract extension last summer and both jumbo deals kick in next seasons. That means Thanks for the memories, Sharp, Bickell, Oduya, and possibly Seabrook.
The NY Islanders waited until late September 2014 for Boston and Chicago to purge difference-making D-men from their rosters due to the fact that they could not afford them anymore. Garth Snow plucked off Johnny Boychuk and Nick Leddy and his team went from laugher to playoff team.
Loaded with oodles of salary cap space and glaring needs on their respective rosters, Murray and Chiarelli are poised to pounce on players on the rosters of contending teams. Be it through offer sheets as Bartlett has suggested or via trade.
Buckle up your chin straps. This is going to be a raucous, memorable summer to remember!
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Ottawa Senators GM Bryan Murray is ready to play "Let's Make A Deal". Murray has four goalies in hand and wants to trade one of them away. Murray wants a top six forward in return for one of his goaltenders.
The Sens now have four goalies in the fold and there are only two nets in Ottawa and Binghamton. Andrew Hammond was just signed to a long term deal and will likely be Sens starting goalie next season. Boston University free agent tender Matt O'Connor was signed by Murray last month and will be the starter in Bingo. The two incumbents are Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner, who was just cleared for contact after he suffered a concussion on Valentine's Day.
Bryan Murray told TSN 1200 that seven teams have called him to inquire about one of his starting goalies. Murray says the Sens haven't decided yet which goalie to trade. Bryan Murray said that he is waiting to see all final offers from other teams before he makes his final decision.
"It's going to be the best offer for the guy we want", said Murray.
Murray wants a top six forward in exchange for one of Anderson or Lehner. Murray says a top six forward is his priority. A scan of his roster says that he needs a top four D more than a top six forward. In my opinion, Murray won't get a top six forward for Anderson or Lehner straight up. He is going to have to sweeten the deal with another young player like Mika Zibanejad or Curtis Lazar.
Nephew Tim has been in the job for 18 months in Buffalo. He would love to do a deal with Uncle Bryan. Tim Murray drafted Lehner and won a Calder Cup with him in AHL Bingo.
Craig Anderson has three year remaining on his current deal.
Robin Lehner has two years remaining. Ditto O'Connor.
I fully expect Tim Murray to call Uncle Bryan to finalize a trade for Lehner to Buffalo.
Tim Murray also has his sights set on Anaheim back-up tender John Gibson, Montreal prospect Zach Fucale, and Boston prospect Malcolm Subban.
It probably wouldn't be a bad idea for Murray to sign UFA Anders Lindback to play the backup role in Buffalo for this upcoming season.
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