NHL Free Agency Rumors: 4 Huge Offer Sheets For Blackhawks To Make This Summer

Could the Chicago Blackhawks utilize their nearly $32 million in cap space this summer to hand out a series of huge offer sheets? Everyone around hockey expects the team to use their cap space in free agency to expedite the rebuild process, which seemed to grind to a halt this season.

According to Matt Larkin of Daily Faceoff, "The Hawks seem far more likely to weaponize their $31.97 million in projected cap space in a seismic way this summer."

And while they have been rumored to be in the market to chase some big-name UFAs, like Mitch Marner and others, restricted free agents, players who are younger, hungrier and more willing to sign up for a young, building situation, might be more realistic.

With the help of a list from Tab Bamford of Bleacher Nation, let's have a look at four potential offer sheets the Blackhawks could hand out to RFAs this summer. We'll rank it from most to least likely:

Mavrik Bourque, Dallas Stars

This one would be the least costly, in terms of compensation, for the Blackhawks to pull off, but because of his still somewhat limited role in Dallas, and a desire to do more, might be the easiest to pull off. Bourque, 23, has landed himself a regular job as a solid two-way center in the Dallas bottom six this season (no small feat for a rookie on a deep Stanley Cup contender), but he still has plenty more to prove. He tore it up in the AHL last year, and is clearly ready for a larger role on an NHL club.

JJ Peterka, Buffalo Sabres

We learned from Frank Seravalli that Peterka is not thrilled with the situation in Buffalo, and could potentially be poached with an offer sheet this summer. The Hawks would be wise to peg the rising star winger as a target. He has posted a career-high 51 points in his third NHL season, poised to be an RFA at season's end.

Matthew Knies, Toronto Maple Leafs

While the Leafs have been dragging their feet on getting an extension done with the young, rising star forward, the Blackhawks could be the beneficiaries. They obviously have great interest in Knies, as they had a trade on the table to land him back in 2022 before he'd even made his NHL debut. Now that he's a legit young star (24 goals in 61 games this season), they've certainly still got him on their radar. Knies, however, has stated on numerous occasions that he wants to stay in Toronto.

Gabriel Vilardi, Winnipeg Jets

Vilardi, the prized piece of the Pierre-Luc Dubois trade with the Los Angeles Kings, has established himself as a top-line star for the Jets, and they can ill-afford to lose him. He's on pace for a 36-goal season. Vilardi is coming off a two-year bridge deal at $3.44 million AAV, and with a huge raise coming, any offer sheet might fall into the compensation window that would require a 1st, 2nd and 3rd round pick being surrendered by the offering team. The Jets would probably match, however, making it all a moot point.