NHL News
NHL Announces 2025-2026 Offer Sheet Tiers
Image © John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Breaking news in the world of NHL offer sheets! Today the NHL announced the Annual Average Value (AAV) thresholds for the compensation tiers that will apply to offer sheets signed by Restricted Free Agents (RFAs) this offseason. These thresholds are adjusted annually to match the annual league salary.
The 2025-26 thresholds are as follows:
| Offer Sheet AAV | Compensation |
| ≥ $11,700,193 |
|
| $9,360,154 - $11,700,192 |
|
| $7,020,114 - $9,360,153 |
|
| $4,680,077 - $7,020,113 |
|
| $2,340,038 - $4,680,076 |
|
| $1,544,425 - $2,340,037 |
|
| ≤ $1,544,424 |
|
Check out our Capology article on Offer Sheets for more detail on the offer sheet mechanism, or visit our Offer Sheet Tracker to see which teams have the available draft picks to offer sheet players.
The 2025 RFA Class and “10.2(c)” Players
Only players classified as restricted free agents (RFAs) can sign offer sheets. This excludes “10.2(c)” players, which are players who have completed their Entry-Level Contracts (ELCs) without meeting the professional-experience requirements tied to their signing age.
The 10.2(c) clause often applies to college players who sign after their NCAA season ends and burn the first year of their ELC without reaching the minimum games-played threshold for a pro season. However, there’s one notable exception this year: Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies played the required ten professional games (regular season + playoffs) in 2022-23 after leaving the University of Minnesota, making him eligible for an offer sheet.
2025’s Top Offer Sheet Eligible Players
Here are the top RFAs eligible to receive an offer sheet this offseason. The full list is available on the PuckPedia Dashboard.
| Team | Player | Position | Age | ‘24-25 Cap Hit |
| EDM | Evan Bouchard | D | 25 | $3,900,00 |
| TOR | Matthew Knies | LW | 22 | $925,000 |
| WPG | Gabe Vilardi | C | 25 | $3,437,500 |
| BUF | JJ Peterka | LW | 23 | $855,834 |
| ANA | Lukas Dostal | G | 24 | $812,500 |
| MIN | Marco Rossi | C | 23 | $863,334 |
| BOS | Morgan Geekie | C | RW | 26 | $2,000,000 |
10.2(c) Players Ineligible for Offer Sheets
The following players don’t meet the pro-season requirement and are ineligible for offer sheets this season. Notable names include Luke Hughes, Alex Laferriere, and Devon Levi.
- Sam Colangelo (ANA)
- Devon Levi (BUF)
- Wyatt Kaiser (CHI)
- Jalen Luypen (CHI)
- Roby Jarventie (EDM)
- Michael Benning (FLA)
- Mackie Samoskevich (FLA)
- Alex Laferriere (LAK)
- Sean Farrel (MTL)
- Luke Hughes (NJD)
- Luke Prokop (NSH)
- Jordan Frasca (NSH)
- Talyn Boyko (NYR)
- Philippe Daoust (OTT)
- Tyler Kleven (OTT)
- Raivis Ansons (PIT)
- Nolan Burke (SJS)
- Mitchell Russell (SJS)
- Will Cranley (STL)
- Tanner Dickinson (STL)
- Ryder Korczak (TBL)
- Isaiah Saville (VGK)
- Garin Bjorklund (WSH)
Will There be Offer Sheets this Offseason?
Offer sheets have historically been rare in the NHL, but last year’s successful double offer sheets by the Blues might signal that times are changing. With several high-upside RFAs eligible and new compensation tiers now set, don’t be surprised if the 2025-26 offseason brings more offer sheet drama.
