NHL Teams Scramble to Make Big Deals After July 1

As June comes to a close, NHL teams are on their toes searching for unrestricted free agents that they can sign to better their team for next season. Among the unrestricted free agents available after July 1st, their will also be an increase in interest in restricted free agents also. Restricted free agents consist of younger players whose rights are still owned by their current team. The new CBA, or collective bargaining agreement set up after the lock out allows teams to make offers to a player who is restricted. The players current team has the option of matching that offer or accepting other compensation in the form of draft picks in order to keep the player a few more years, otherwise the player will play for the team that made them the initial offer. For example, last summer the Flyers offered Vancouver Canuck Ryan Kesler 1.9 million dollars, and the Canucks agreed to match the offer. If they had decided they no longer wanted Kesler in their lineup, or they simply could not afford to pay Kesler this sum of money, Kesler would have packed his bags and he would be heading for Philadelphia. Before the new CBA teams did not often make offers to restricted players because it irritated team executives and drove up player salaries. The best part about the ability to make a player an offer is the fact that any player can pretty much be dealt if the price is right. It is also great because the teams are limited to the amount of money in their budget, so growing players get the salaries they deserve, and no team can dominate the sport the way dynasties like the Edmonton Oilers and the New York Islanders have in the past.

Teams such as the Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils are in trouble. Currently Buffalo has $28 millions dollars already tied up, and have only 13 players currently signed. They will want to keep players like Chris Drury and Daniel Briere, but cap money may limit the amount they can offer each player. Players like Thomas Vanek will likely get offers from other teams, and although Buffalo does not want Vanek to leave, their budget may not allow him to stay. New Jersey is in a similar situation. They have $30 million dollars already tied up and have only 11 players committed for next year. Expect the Devils to sign Brian Rafalski in the days to come, but young players like Scott Gomez and Zach Parise may not be able to stay. Most importantly, Ottawa Senators goalie Ray Emery is a restricted free agent, and many teams are looking for a reliable, Stanley Cup experienced netminder to help them be the next champions. But for the most part, if NHL teams are smart with their cap money, they should be in the position to match any reasonable offer made to their player.