Rumors of an RFA offersheet on July 1st

It's been a few years since we've had a good Restricted Free Agent (RFA) offersheet scandal in the NHL.

You will of course remember the back and forth that the Montreal Canadiens and Carolina Hurricanes engaged in a few years back. The Canadiens under then-GM Marc Bergevin signed Hurricanes RFA Sebastian Aho to a massive five year, $42 million offer sheet that the Hurricanes matched immediately. Obviously miffed by the offer the Hurricanes turned around and signed Habs youngster Jesperi Kotkaniemi to a one year offer sheet that included a $20 signing bonus... the 20 just so happened to match Aho's jersey number.

Since then though, it's been crickets for RFA's around the league.

Enter: Martin Necas.

NHL insider Pierre LeBrun reports that "a few teams" are wondering if the Carolina Hurricanes forward will receive an RFA offer sheet come July 1st. The Hurricanes are reportedly intent on trading Necas but have set a high price for him. Teams could conceivably acquire the Czech forward's rights for a cheaper price by simply giving up RFA compensation.

From LeBrun:

Necas is probably looking at a deal in the $4 million to $6 million annually range, which would put the RFA compensation at a 1st round pick and a 3rd round pick. If a team were able to get hm signed for under $4.2 million then the compensation would be just a 2nd round pick. In that case though, Carolina would certainly match the deal.

Stay tuned though, things could get interesting this offseason.