The New Jersey Devils are unlikely to pursue an offer sheet on any restricted free agents (RFA) this summer. However, just for the Silly Season fun of it, suppose the Devils get bold in the latter part of the summer. Whom should they target?
We’ve reached that time of the hockey year when there isn’t much happening. General managers go on vacation with their families. Perhaps they go off the grid entirely to a Canadian cottage. Fans and media scratch and claw for things to think about. That’s where Silly Season comes in: a time for fanciful thinking about roster moves and trades we logically know are unlikely. Just go with it. Have some fun.
There is something happening in the NHL in the next few weeks, and it’s the arbitration cases for RFAs who filed. Filing for arbitration removes someone from offer sheet eligibility. However, there are still some RFAs out there who are eligible for an offer sheet. These players didn’t file for arbitration and, of course, remain unsigned.
If the Devils attempted to land an RFA via offer sheet. here are some candidates who’d fit a team need.
Devils Offer Sheet Target 1: Dylan Samberg
Dylan Samberg isn’t a household name but he was one of the better stay-at-home defensemen for the Winnipeg Jets last season. He had 5.3 defensive point shares to help the Jets put together one of the best defenses in the NHL. Many point to Connor Hellebuyck as the reason the team allowed minimal goals during the regular season but it was a great defense (with a lot of Dylans) that made it dominant.
The Devils don’t need a lot of help on their blue line, especially with Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec expected to round out the unit. Moreover, there’s always the lingering question about whether the Devils will acquire Quinn Hughes at some point, leaving more than enough skaters at the position and no need to add another via the offer sheet. However, Samberg would add more stability to the defense while the offense continues to carry the Devils.
Offer Sheet Target 2: Arvid Soderblom
This would be a gamble by the Devils. Arvid Soderblom showed flashes with the Chicago Blackhawks but is still a young and unproven goaltender. His goals saved above average (GSAA) last season was -2.1, and it’s -33.9 for his career (yikes). He’s ideal for a rebuilding team, not a team competing for the Cup like the Devils.
Soderblom is, however, a good option for the future. The Devils already have Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen on their roster but both are 34 years old or older. With Allen locked up with a long-term deal, the Devils need a backup for the future, especially if they don’t re-sign Markstrom after the 2025-26 season. Soderblom could be the guy.
Offer Sheet Target 3: Marco Rossi
Marco Rossi is the top player available via the offer sheet market. A young forward on the rise who will be a staple of any forward unit as a center who can do it all.
Any team that adds Rossi will change the conversation around their forward unit, and the Devils are no exception. They have strength up the middle with Hughes and Nico Hischier leading the top six but Rossi gives the Devils options as they can move forwards around and have reinforcements for any injuries.
There are rumblings that the Wild have Rossi’s contract taken care of. They must address the Kirill Kaprizov extension first but after that, they’ll have the Rossi deal ready to go. If that’s the case, then any offer sheet won’t matter anyway (the Wild will match it anyway). However, if the Kaprizov extension puts the Wild in a bind, then the offseason gets a lot more interesting for all of us.
Offer Sheets 101: The Rules
The video below was made last year. Nevertheless, it’s a good review of how the rules work for tendering, matching/declining and meeting the compensation scale requirements.
