Why NHL offer sheets could be league's next big power move

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Apr 4, 2025, 17:07 IST

Text Size

Small
Medium
Large

With the NHL’s salary cap expanding by 2025, there’s increasing speculation that offer sheets might make a significant comeback. The recent example set by the St. Louis Blues targeting Edmonton’s Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg highlights the potential for strategic maneuvers. This renewed approach could disrupt teams and reshape the RFA market significantly.

Why NHL offer sheets could be league's next big power move

Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg (Via: Getty Images)

It’s been years since offer sheets truly made waves in the NHL. A move once known for its boldness and drama has faded into the background but maybe not for much longer. With the 2025 offseason approaching and cap space finally expanding, there’s growing chatter that teams could be ready to bring the offer sheet back into play. And this time, they might be doing it with more strategy than ever before. Could we be on the verge of an offseason shake-up no one saw coming?

NHL teams could shake up RFA market in 2025

A History of NHL Offer Sheets

In a league built on controlled spending and long-term planning, offer sheets have long been viewed as risky business. They require not only financial muscle but the willingness to ruffle feathers and few front offices have been willing to go there. But recent developments suggest a shift could be coming.

When the St. Louis Blues extended offer sheets to Edmonton’s Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg in 2024, it raised more than eyebrows. It raised possibilities. Both players signed two-year deals with St. Louis after the Oilers declined to match, and in return, Edmonton received mid-round draft picks. While the compensation was fair, the message was louder: if you have cap space and guts, the offer sheet can be a game-changer.
And with the NHL’s salary cap set to increase over the next three seasons, that message is becoming harder to ignore. More cap space means more flexibility and more opportunity to target young, high-upside restricted free agents (RFAs) stuck on teams with limited room to maneuver.

Offer sheets becoming more than just a bold move

This isn’t about stealing stars. It’s about getting ahead of the market, disrupting rival teams’ development plans, and making strategic investments in future assets.
Also Read: Lane Hutson is Montreal’s game-changer—and NHL should take notice
Offer sheets also create a sense of urgency, forcing other franchises into quick decisions, overpayments, or even roster reshuffling. In a league where timing is everything, that edge can be crucial.
As the offseason window opens from July 1 to December 1, front offices across the NHL will be watching closely. The offer sheet era might not just be returning, it could be evolving into one of the league’s smartest tools for teams bold enough to use it.

Get the latest IPL 2025 updates on Times of India, including match schedules, team squads, points table and IPL live score for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Don't miss the list of players in the race for IPL Orange Cap and IPL Purple cap.

About the Author

TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

End of Article