The Edmonton Oilers faced a tense situation regarding star defenseman Evan Bouchard's contract negotiations this offseason, with the Carolina Hurricanes reportedly considering an offer sheet. This threat pushed the Oilers to quickly secure Bouchard with a four-year, $10.5 million AAV deal before he reached restricted free agency on July 1st.
According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the Hurricanes had significant cap space and draft assets, making them a credible threat to sign Bouchard via offer sheet. The Hurricanes' interest in Bouchard reportedly dates back to trade deadline discussions where they inquired about him in a potential deal with the Oilers for Mikko Rantanen. Oilers Now host Bob Stauffer also confirmed the Oilers believed an offer sheet was imminent.
An offer sheet between $9,360,154 and $11,700,192 would have cost the Hurricanes two first-round picks, a 2026 second-round pick, and a 2026 third-round pick. Exceeding $11,700,193 would have increased the compensation to four first-round picks. The Hurricanes would have needed to reacquire their 2026 third-round pick from the Utah Mammoth to complete the deal. Some speculated that the Hurricanes might have offered as high as $11 or $12 million per season.
Ultimately, the Oilers opted to sign Bouchard to avoid the risk of losing him via offer sheet. While the $10.5 million AAV is a significant raise from his previous contract, the Oilers recognized Bouchard's importance to their team, especially with Connor McDavid entering the final year of his contract. By signing Bouchard, the Oilers maintain a core player and signal their continued commitment to contending for the Stanley Cup.
Other NHL Rumours
In other NHL rumors, there was speculation surrounding the Vegas Golden Knights potentially trading Tomas Hertl to the Carolina Hurricanes. This move would have cleared cap space for the Golden Knights, potentially paving the way for them to sign Mitch Marner. However, reports indicated that the Hurricanes didn't have any deals in place and weren't close to acquiring Hertl.
The Detroit Red Wings reportedly had ambitions to sign Nikolaj Ehlers or acquire Viktor Arvidsson, but were unable to finalize those deals. Additionally, the New Jersey Devils might consider trading Dougie Hamilton, with some conversations reportedly taking place.
