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Looking at potential offseason roster moves for the Washington Capitals
Photo credit: NHL
When it comes to player-signing loopholes in the NHL, the Offer Sheet is perhaps the most feared, and despised, by NHL general managers.
Last summer, the Edmonton Oilers lost two talented players, defenseman Philip Brobery and forward Dylan Holloway, to offer sheets tendered by the St. Louis Blues on August 31st, taking advantage of a cash-strapped Oilers club.
Caps GM Chris Patrick will work hard to avoid a similar scenario this summer with two of their own skilled players Connor McMichael and Martin Fehervary.
"I think we'd like to be ahead of the curve on our higher-end restricted free agents," Patrick said last week." I mean, you saw what happened last year with Edmonton. You get yourself in a tough spot pretty quickly if a team gets aggressive, so we'd like to make sure we're covered off there."
The two, former Caps draft picks, McMichael and Fehervary are vital to the team, and are expected to get raises after both had career years in 2024-25.
Broberg signed a 2-year, $9.16m deal, and Holloway inked a 2-year contract worth $4.58m. The Oilers received a 2025, 2nd-round pick and a 2025, 3rd-round pick as compensation for the offer sheet from the Blues.
Given the expected sizeable cap increase in the next few years, and the Blues' success with their offer sheet, other teams will be looking to tender their own offer sheet. The Caps can avoid this, and any stress, by signing the two extensions early.
McMichael set a new career high in goals (26) and assists (31), and points (57) in 82 games this year, and mentioned on Breakdown Day that he'd like to sign an extension with the Caps.
Fehervary also set career highs in assists (20) and points (25) in 81 games.
Caps are not the only club that risks losing its players to an offer sheet. The following list is of this and next years' RFAs: Matthew Knies, Evan Bouchard, Connor Bedard, Jason Robertson, Lane Hutson, Adam Fantilli, Logan Cooley, Leo Carlson, Logan Stankoven, and Luke Hughes.
More details to follow.
| POLL | ||
MAI 28 | 34 ANSWERS Looking at potential offseason roster moves for the Washington Capitals Do you think the Washington Capitals will make the playoffs next season? | ||
| Yes | 28 | 82.4 % |
| No | 6 | 17.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
