NHL CBA - RFA Offer Sheets

This is an archive post to create a quick-reference on RFA (in this case: Group 2 Free Agents) Offer Sheet compensation requirements as negotiated in the CBA. This is not a comprehensive guide.

Used when a team (A) offers a contract to a player, who is a RFA with another team (B), and the player has accepted the contract. Team B has one of two options - they can match the contract and retain the player or they can accept draft pick compensation (per below).

RFA Offer Sheet* .......... Req. Compensation**

2005

_,660,000 or less ......... none
_,660,000 - 1,000,000 ..... 3rd round pick
1,000,000 - 2,000,000 ..... 2nd round pick
2,000,000 - 3,000,000 ..... 1st and 3rd etc.
3,000,000 - 4,000,000 ..... 1st, 2nd and 3rd
4,000,000 - 5,000,000 ..... 1st x2, 2nd & 3rd
5,000,000 or more ......... 1st x4

2007

_,773,442 or less ......... none
_,773,443 - 1,171,882 ..... 3rd round pick
1,171,882 - 2,343,764 ..... 2nd round pick
2,343,764 - 3,515,645 ..... 1st and 3rd etc.
3,515,645 - 4,687,527 ..... 1st, 2nd and 3rd
4,687,527 - 5,859,412 ..... 1st x2, 2nd & 3rd
5,859,412 or more ......... 1st x4

2008 (from NHLSCAP)

_,863,156 or less ......... none
_,863,157 - 1,307,811 ..... 3rd round pick
1,307,812 - 2,615,623 ..... 2nd round pick
2,615,624 - 3,923,434 ..... 1st and 3rd etc.
3,923,435 - 5,231,246 ..... 1st, 2nd and 3rd
5,231,247 - 6,539,061 ..... 1st x2, 2nd & 3rd
6,539,062 or more ......... 1st x4

* Amounts increase in lock-step with Average League salary
** Picks acquired from other teams cannot be used as compensation

In the 2006 off-season, Philadelphia (Team A) offered Ryan Kesler (the RFA) a one-year contract of $1.9 million. Vancouver (Team B) then had 7 days to match the offer. If Vancouver did not match the offer then they would have recieved a 2nd round pick from Philadelphia as compensation.

Note: Vancouver matched the offer and retained Kesler.

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I hope this has been of assistance.