2012 NHL Free Agents: Teams Who Must Give Offer Sheet to Cory Schneider

Many of the teams who didn't make the 2012 NHL playoffs such as the Toronto Maple Leafs did so because their goaltending was poor throughout the season.

While there aren't many top-tier goalies who will be unrestricted free agents this summer, there are a number of talented young netminders who are set to become restricted free agents this summer that teams could extend an offer sheet to.

To pry an RFA from a team, you must make an offer that the team who has the player likely won't match, and you also must be willing to give up some high draft picks too.

This is a steep price, but for some teams who desperately need a franchise goaltender, it's worth it. Vancouver Canucks backup goaltender Cory Schneider is one RFA goalie who teams could go after in the offseason.

He's a very good young player who has proven he can be a reliable starter on a Stanley Cup contending team. He doesn't get rattled in big games and still has the ability to further develop his skills. Schneider also ranked third in GAA and second in save percentage.

With the Canucks owing starter Roberto Luongo over $5 million per season through 2022, it's unlikely that the Canucks will want to tie up a lot of their salary cap space in two goalies.

Let's look at three teams who must extend an offer sheet to Schneider.

Toronto Maple Leafs

The Leafs ranked 29th in goals against this season and their poor goaltending from James Reimer and Jonas Gustavsson was the reason for that.

General manager Brian Burke doesn't like trying to sign RFAs from other teams, but it's time he breaks his own rules. The Leafs have to make the playoffs next season, or Burke will likely lose his job.

Burke needs to do what's best for the franchise and sign a young goaltender who can be the franchise's anchor for years to come.

Schneider has experience playing in a major hockey market and also has Stanley Cup Final experience. He also won't cost as much as Montreal Canadiens RFA goaltender Carey Price.

The Leafs going after Schneider is a no-brainer. 

Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman has an extra first-round pick to work with from the Kyle Quincey trade earlier this season, so he has some ammunition to go after a high-priced RFA.

Yzerman gambled that veteran goalie Dwayne Roloson could lead the team back to the playoffs this season, but it was a foolish gamble that he ultimately lost badly on.

The Lightning are just an upgrade between the pipes away from being a top contender in the Eastern Conference, especially when you look at their ability to score goals with superstar Steven Stamkos.

Offering Schneider a contract makes a ton of sense for the Lightning.

Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets' main weakness throughout their brief history as an NHL franchise has been goaltending, and the team won't ever return to the playoffs until that position is improved.

The Blue Jackets can afford to give up draft picks as compensation if they sign Schneider because they can get young talent and/or high draft picks back by trading captain Rick Nash at the draft or in the summer.

Columbus has built some nice defensive depth over the years, and now they just need a reliable goalie to complete the building of a solid back end.

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Nicholas Goss is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and was the organization's on-site reporter for the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals in Boston.