It was reported on Thursday that some NHL agents and executives are expecting an increase in offer sheets to be made this upcoming off-season. This is in large part due to the rise in the salary cap year-over-year and will present every team with more opportunities to hunt down young, high-end talent on expiring entry-level contracts.
The offer sheets for Edmonton's Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg by the St. Louis Blues made waves throughout the hockey world as they were able to scoop up two key players from the defending Western Conference Champions.
Holloway made an immediate impact, breaking out for a career-high 63 points, while Broberg solidified himself as a reliable stay-at-home defender with a plus-21 rating this season.
The move was a huge win for St. Louis and turned them into a playoff contender. The success of the offer sheets has seemingly motivated more teams behind the scenes to go after restricted free agents with high upside and add a cornerstone player for their franchise, like the Blues got with Holloway and Broberg.
All RFAs are more than likely going to stay put, but we're offering up a list of some restricted free agents that will be highly sought after this upcoming off-season and could even get an offer sheet that just can't be matched.
Matthew Knies, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs
The story surrounding the Buds this season has been Mitch Marner and whether the hometown kid will re-sign or not. But as Marner has risen to the top of the Leafs in scoring, Knies has quietly had a breakout season with 26 goals and 25 assists for 51 points through 71 games.
The 22-year-old's performance on the scoresheet this season has inserted himself into the conversation with names like Florida's Sam Bennett, 2024 first-overall pick Macklin Celebrini and Hall-of-Fame winger Patrick Kane. Knies has become the power forward that Toronto has always needed and yearned for as he adds to the sensation that this is the most physically tough Maple Leafs team in a very long time.
The Arizona native will be highly sought after and will have general managers tripping over themselves to get a chance to add him at the expense of several high draft picks. Toronto will likely find a way to bring back Knies, as he is the type of player they've been longing for, but if they get preoccupied with other pending free agents, a team may be able to swoop in and give an offer they can't match.
The Maple Leafs have many other key players on expiring contracts besides Marner like John Tavares, Nick Robertson and Pontus Holmberg. So, keep an eye out for Knies this summer.
Evan Bouchard, D, Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers could get perged again with offer sheets as their top blueliner is on an expiring contract. After finishing fourth in defensemen scoring with 82 points last season, Bouchard has taken a step back with 62 points this season.
The 25-year-old Oakville, Ont. native was a massive part of the Oilers' run to the Stanley Cup ...
