NHL Offer Sheet Tracker

Only players classified as restricted free agents (RFAs) can sign offer sheets. Typically, RFAs have completed their entry-level contracts but have not accrued enough NHL seasons or reached a certain age to become unrestricted free agents.

To retain RFA rights, a team must extend a qualifying offer to the player. If no qualifying offer is provided, the player becomes an unrestricted free agent and is no longer eligible for an offer sheet.

If the original team does not match an offer sheet, they receive draft pick compensation based on the annual average value (AAV) of the new contract. Higher-value contracts result in greater compensation.

After an offer sheet is signed, the player's current team has 7 days to decide whether to match the offer or accept draft pick compensation.

Teams must use their own original draft picks as offer sheet compensation—they cannot use picks acquired from other teams. If multiple picks from the same round are owed, teams are granted extra years to fulfill the requirement (e.g., owing two picks from the same round gives the team three drafts to deliver them).