Vancouver Canucks May Be Planning Bold Offer Sheet Move for Maple Leafs Breakout Star
The Vancouver Canucks have been linked to a pair of restricted free agent forwards from the Buffalo Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs with just five weeks to go until the window opens on Canada Day.
It's going to be a very interesting offseason for the Vancouver Canucks as they hope to make some big additions to their roster and make a push for the Stanley Cup Playoffs next season.
In order for their playoff dreams to become reality, Patrik Allvin is going to have to consider a number of different avenues to improve the Canucks' roster and one potential options is going down the offer sheet route with a restricted free agent.
Buffalo Sabres & Toronto Maple Leafs RFAs named as offer sheet targets
Offer sheets are quite tricky to pull off and haven't been used that often in the history of the National Hockey League, with the first one being Gary Nylund in August 1986, while the St. Louis Blues used this method to bring in a pair of players from the Edmonton Oilers - Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway.
In a recent article on The Athletic, Harman Dayal and Thomas Drance shared some potential restricted free agents that Patrik Allvin could use an offer sheet on this summer.
Among the names mentioned by Dayal and Drance are Matthew Knies of the Toronto Maple Leafs and JJ Peterka of the Buffalo Sabres, both of whom had career-years during the 2024-25 campaign, putting up 58 and 68 points, respectively.
"It won't be cheap, but Peterka's speed, lethal shot and dynamic skill set are an exciting combination that the Canucks should look into." Dayal and Drance said about JJ Peterka.
If Patrik Allvin and the Vancouver Canucks are going to submit an offer sheet to a player this summer, they're going to need to ensure they have the right compensation needed if the other team decides not to match.
The National Hockey League released new compensation thresholds earlier this month for the 2025-26 season, with teams allowed to talk to pending unrestricted free agents starting on June 30th, but nothing can be officially signed until the next day at 9 am PT.
"$1,544,424 or less - None.
- Over $1,544,424 to $2,340,037 - Third-round pick.
- Over $2,340,037 to $4,680,076 - Second-round pick.
- Over $4,680,076 to $7,020,113 - First- and third-round picks.
- Over $7,020,113 to $9,360,153 - First-, second-, and third-round picks.
- Over $9,360,153 to $11,700,192 - Two firsts, one second and one third.
- Over $11,700,192 - Four first-round picks.
- Over $1,544,424 to $2,340,037 - Third-round pick.
- Over $2,340,037 to $4,680,076 - Second-round pick.
- Over $4,680,076 to $7,020,113 - First- and third-round picks.
- Over $7,020,113 to $9,360,153 - First-, second-, and third-round picks.
- Over $9,360,153 to $11,700,192 - Two firsts, one second and one third.
- Over $11,700,192 - Four first-round picks.
Entering the offseason, the Vancouver Canucks are projected to have a little over $14.1 million available in cap space and as Patrik Allvin ponders what he'll do with his own free agents including Brock Boeser and Pius Suter, along with making additions to the roster via the UFA market and/or trade, there might not be enough money to submit an offer sheet to any of the top RFAs available.
Source: Harman Dayal & Thomas Drance/The Athletic
Canucks free-agent targets: 12 pending RFAs worth tendering an offer sheet
Canucks free-agent targets: 12 pending RFAs worth tendering an offer sheet
Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily
| POLL | ||
MAI 26 | 1131 ANSWERS Vancouver Canucks May Be Planning Bold Offer Sheet Move for Maple Leafs Breakout Star Which RFA forward do you think the Vancouver Canucks should target through an offer sheet or trading for their rights? | ||
| JJ Peterka (Buffalo Sabres) | 388 | 34.3 % |
| Matthew Knies (Toronto Maple Leafs) | 743 | 65.7 % |
| List of polls | ||