Way-Too-Early 2025 NHL Restricted Free Agents Who Should Get an Offer Sheet

The 2024 NHL offseason became randomly interesting in August because we saw something that we almost never see in the league—an offer sheet.

Not only that, but we witnessed a dual offer sheet, with the St. Louis Blues signing both Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway from the Edmonton Oilers. They were just the third and fourth successful offer sheets signed in the salary-cap era, as the Oilers refused to match either.

Could it be a potential turning point in the way teams handle the offseason and restricted free-agent situations? Or was it simply a one-time occurrence?

Either way, it is still something to keep an eye on. So let's take a way-too-early look ahead to the 2025 offseason and some players who could be offer sheet targets.

Keep in mind that even if offer sheets do become more common, it is still not going to involve the top-tier players. Teams will go out of their way to keep young stars (like Dallas' Wyatt Johnson, who will be an RFA next offseason) and will likely match any offer.

The key is targeting players like Holloway and Broberg. Players who maybe have not had their breakthrough yet, or players on teams that are going to have major salary-cap issues in trying to keep them.

So let's take a look at some potential options.

Matthew Knies, Toronto Maple Leafs

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TORONTO, ON - MAY 2:Matthew Knies #23 of the Toronto Maple Leafs snaps his stick against the Boston Bruins during the second period in Game Six of the First Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 2, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images)

Matthew Knies might be close to the "we will do whatever it takes to match" territory because his first year in the NHL was extremely promising (15 goals, 20 assists, 35 points), he remains one of Toronto's best young players, and he still has untapped potential.

The problem is Toronto might have its hands tied with the salary cap, especially as the team figures out what to do with Mitch Marner and John Taveres, two key members of its core who are unrestricted free agents after this season.

Whether the Leafs re-sign them or let them go and have to replace them, those are roster spots that are going to have to be filled by somebody. And somebody who is probably a high-level player and not particularly cheap.

With Auston Matthews, William Nylander and Morgan Rielly already on big contracts, that cap space could disappear quickly and could make Toronto somewhat vulnerable to an offer sheet.

Jake Neighbours, St. Louis Blues

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ST. LOUIS, MO - MARCH 28: St. Louis Blues left wing Jake Neighbors (63) watches the puck during an NHL game between the Calgary Flames and the St. Louis Blues, on March 28, 2024, at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, MO. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Here is the problem the St. Louis Blues might run into: When you sign players to an offer sheet, that might make you vulnerable to somebody trying to return the favor and poach one of your players.

Even though the Blues have devolved into a state of consistent mediocrity in recent years, they still have some pretty big contracts on this roster, and almost all of them remain through next season and beyond.

Jake Neighbours is one of two important RFA's on the roster after this season, along with goalie Jake Hofer.

Neighbours had a small breakout in 2023-24, scoring 27 goals in 77 games. Some of that may have been shooting-percentage (18.6) driven and due for a regression this season, but another big year could make him an intriguing RFA option who the Blues might have to scramble to match an offer for.

Alexander Holtz, Vegas Golden Knights

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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 13: Alexander Holtz #10 of the New Jersey Devils skates the puck against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center on April 13, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)

Alexander Holtz is one of the few additions the Golden Knights made to their lineup this season, and they should be hoping that a change of scenery and a fresh start can help him reach his potential.

He scored 16 goals and 28 total points with the Devils during the 2023-24 season, despite not always getting the best opportunity under head coach Lindy Ruff. He is still only going to be 23 years old next season and still has another level he could reach offensively.

If he does, teams might look to put Vegas into a bind given its perpetually complicated and bloated salary-cap situation. The Golden Knights are always in the market for stars and big-money deals, and it requires a ton of maneuvering and loopholes to make it all work.

That could make them vulnerable to an offer sheet, especially if Holtz has a nice year. He is the exact type of player who might be worth trying to pry away.

Decent young player, but not quite good enough that you would need to make a prime offer and risk giving up a first-round pick or even multiple first-round picks. Even then, it still might be tough for the current team to easily match it (or want to match it).

Kaapo Kakko, Will Cuylle or Matt Rempe, New York Rangers

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NEW YORK, NY - MAY 30: Matt Rempe #73 of the New York Rangers warms up prior to Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Florida Panthers on May 30, 2024 at Madison Square Garden in New York. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

If there is any team in the NHL that is vulnerable for an offer sheet next offseason, it's the New York Rangers.

Their roster is loaded with potential RFA's, including Alexis Lafreniere, Kaapo Kakko, Will Cuylle, Matt Rempe, Zac Jones and K'Andre Miller.

Lafreniere and perhaps even Miller would probably fall into the "we will match any offer" category, so they shouldn't be in danger. It is also possible, if not likely, that Lafreniere could even have a new contract extension before he even reaches RFA status.

But given how many massive contracts the Rangers roster already has, and how much all of those raises are going to cost them, some of their second-tier RFAs could be targets, especially Cuylle, Kakko and perhaps even Rempe.

Rempe might be the worst of the players here, but he is also somebody who teams could have interest in given his physical play and the potential low salary cost.

Kakko is also intriguing, assuming the Rangers do not trade him before it gets to this point. He has never turned into a star, and his box score production remains underwhelming, but he is still a useful player who can do a lot of little things for his line and take care of the dirty work in getting the puck and driving possession.

In some ways he might be the ideal RFA target: The Rangers will be tight against the cap, his lack of goals and points will keep his salary and potential compensation low, and he is still a useful player who can make any team better.

Devon Levi, Buffalo Sabres

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BUFFALO, NEW YORK - MARCH 27: Devon Levi #27 of the Buffalo Sabres tends goal against the Ottawa Senators during an NHL game on March 27, 2024 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Buffalo Sabres might not allow this to happen because Devon Levi is still a highly regarded young goalie prospect, but they are another team that is slated to have a handful of potential RFAs. Levi could be joined by John-Jason Peterka and Jack Quinn as restricted free agents. All of them will be a priority.

What could make Levi an option for other teams is that the Sabres have already committed long-term to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen on a contract that pays him over $4.5 million per season.

If Levi has a decent year, another team could really force the Sabres' hands into making a decision on whether they want to invest more than $8-9 million on their goalie tandem long-term.

Young goalies can be difficult to find, they do not always have a ton of trade value, and this might be a good opportunity for a rival team to maybe find a potential young star at the position.