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2016 NHL Free Agency: Top 10 restricted free agents

By Dave Stevenson

Apr 19, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) skates with the puck defended by Detroit Red Wings defenseman Kyle Quincey (27) during the third period in game four of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Joe Louis Arena. Tampa won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 19, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) skates with the puck defended by Detroit Red Wings defenseman Kyle Quincey (27) during the third period in game four of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Joe Louis Arena. Tampa won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 21, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; The NHL logo on display in a game between the Minnesota Wild and Chicago Blackhawks in the second period during a Stadium Series hockey game at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 21, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; The NHL logo on display in a game between the Minnesota Wild and Chicago Blackhawks in the second period during a Stadium Series hockey game at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /

Here are the top 10 restricted free agents in a deep NHL free agency class.

The 2016 NHL free agency class might be a bit lacking in terms of unrestricted free agents, especially once you get past Steven Stamkos and Keith Yandle. However, if teams want to be bold and sign a restricted free agent to an offer sheet, they will have a plethora of options.

There is a lot of young talent in the league right now and some of the league’s youngest stars will be eligible to receive offer sheets. While outside teams rarely sign players to offer sheets, this offseason’s options will be quite tempting.

Listed below is everything you need to know about restricted free agents and offer sheets.

Offer sheets can be given to any player who is an unsigned player and doesn’t have a contract. Qualifying offers must be given to restricted free agents if the team wants to keep them and they must be given out by the Monday following the NHL Draft. This offseason, that date is June 27.

There is a catch to offer sheets – teams have to give up draft picks depending on the average annual value (or the cap hit). The compensation levels are listed here. Their team has one week to match the offer sheet. In case you are curious, here is a list of all the restricted free agents.

Before taking a look at the top 10 NHL restricted free agents this offseason, since the class is so deep, let’s look at the honorable mentions.

Next: Honorable Mentions

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