Every year a dozen or so posts pop up with the title, "Should Team X Offer Sheet Player Y." In almost every scenario, Player Y is an elite younger player who is an RFA and there are stories about how the team doesn't want to overpay him. Patrik Laine, Mark Stone, Barzal, Rantanen, the list goes on. All of these have at least at one point in their career been the subject of an offer sheet rumour, and nothing ever comes to fruition. The last big offer sheet was Sebastian Aho, who signed a 5 year 42.27 million dollar deal with the Canadiens that was almost immediately matched by the Hurricanes.

Everyone enjoys talking about offer sheets because of the excitement factor. Canadiens fans went nuts contemplating what the lineup would look like with Aho in it. The idea of players that are believed to be untouchable getting scooped up by another team is an enticing pipe dream. The problem is it's just that; a pipe dream. In order to offer sheet a top end player, the amount of draft picks that need to be given up are high, the most extreme cases being up to four first round picks.

Today we aren't going to discuss why the Kraken should offer sheet Elias Pettersson or a player of that ilk. Instead we are going to look at the middle level players. Teams are going to be up against the cap and have a balancing act to juggle to fit contracts in. If Seattle swoops in and offer sheets Player Y for 3 million a year, that Team X was hoping to sign for 2 million, that could work well in The Kraken's favour. Here are some players and teams that The Kraken should target.

ST. LOUIS BLUES
Cap Space Going Into Next Season: $17,664,485
Key RFA's To Sign: Zachary Sanford, Ivan Barbashev, Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou, Vince Dunn
The St. Louis Blues are in an interesting predicament for next season with no team being more vulnerable to an offer sheet in my opinion. Some big contracts in Schwartz, Hoffman, and Bozak are coming off the books for the Blues but there are a number of young players that are going to get raises as well. In addition GM Doug Armstrong is likely going to need to dip into free agency to replace the likes of Schwartz and Bozak as well.

We don't see this kind of animosity between GM's anymore as what goes around comes around, but I would love to see Ron Francis offer sheet some like Sanford for 4 years x 2.5 million, have Armstrong match, do the same for Vince Dunn at 4 years x 3.5 million, force him to match that, then go at Jordan Kyrou for 5 x 4.3. A 5 year deal at 4.3 million per season would cost the Kraken a second round pick in compensation if the Blues refused to match. Obviously this kind of scenario is unrealistic but if the Kraken focused in on one of these players and bet higher than the Blues are willing to pay they could walk away with a young player for merely a third or second round pick.

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
Cap Space Going Into Next Season: $-$1,164,872
Key RFA's To Sign: Zack Aston Reese, Teddy Blueger, Radim Zohorna, Kasper Björkqvist

The Penguins actually have negative cap space going into next season with the raise that John Marino is getting starting next season. Obviously the team is going to look to trade the likes of Zucker or hope someone like Michael Matheson is selected by Seattle and gives the team some alleviation.

Both Blueger and Reese played a fair amount together on the fourth line but managed to put up some respectable points, specifically Blueger who put up 22 points in 43 games with no PP time. 3 of his goals came shorthanded. Both are young depth options that fulfill their role on the team and the Pens would likely want to qualify both at just a hair over 1 million. Once again, if the Kraken decide to swoop in and offer sheet these players between 1.4 and 2.1 million, the most they would have to give up in compensation is a third round pick.

Another option here is with younger prospects that could be ready to make the jump to the NHL. European forwards like Björkqvist and Zohorna would likely be qualified and make just a hair over $800,000. If Seattle offers a contract below 1.4 million, no compensation is given in return. Cap space can be weaponized people.

PHILEDELPHIA FLYERS
Cap Space Going Into Next Season: $$13,085,477
Key RFA's To Sign: Nolan Patrick, Travis Sanheim, Carter Hart

The Flyers are an interesting target for offer sheets depending on how much they value some rising players who are set to be RFA. Nolan Patrick was drafted 2nd overall in 2017 but has struggled with some serious injuries and inconsistencies since entering the league. He is a young player and there is still plenty of time for him to improve but how much is the team prepared to pay him right now? If Seattle went in the 4 or 5 year range at 3.7 million it would certainly be a big risk for the Kraken but also for the Flyers if they chose to match.

Sanheim isn't as likely an option for Seattle because I think the Flyers would happily sign him at 4.3 million a season. The Kraken would have to be more aggressive in the 4.4+ range and that would mean giving up a first and a third which I don't see as good value right now.

What will the Flyers do with Carter Hart. "The Next Carey Price" had a 0.877SV% with the Flyers last season and is set to be an RFA. Philly likely wants to play things slow with Carter and won't jump into a massive long term deal yet. If you are Seattle, do you offer him a 5x5.8 million dollar deal? The Flyers would have no choice but to match that but again that will make it harder for them to sign other players.

Ultimately offer sheets almost never happen but with the amount of cap space that Seattle has, there is a real opportunity for the team to get creative in weaponizing their space and take advantage of the rest of the NHL.

Thanks for reading!

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