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NHL free agency opens up in just a couple weeks and, given the less than mediocre free agent crop, teams could turn to some restricted free agents in hopes of improving their roster.
Teams with unsigned RFA's like the New Jersey Devils should be very aware of this, especially given the rumors of their less than ideal financial situation.
Enter Adam Henrique. The Devils 23-year-old center has shown over the last couple seasons that he can play in all situations and produce at a high level. Henrique has also shown that he can produce on the biggest stage; the NHL playoffs.
Several NHL franchises are looking for a young top-6 center, and Henrique is just that. If I were Lou Lamoriello, I'd work on getting Henrique locked up long-term as soon as possible. He's clearly a key component of the team going forward and the risk of losing him to a monster offer sheet should be enough to push the two sides to the negotiating table.
Many general managers are willing to do anything in their power to improve and if it takes an offer sheet to do so, they'll do it. Flames GM, Jay Feaster, is a perfect example of that.
The Flames were looking for a young, legitimate top-6 centerman and they went after Colorado Avalanche forward Ryan O'Reilly, who was an RFA at the time, in a big way. As you may recall, the Flames signed him to an offer sheet worth $6.5 million per season. In the end they didn't get him, but they certainly made it difficult on the Avalanche to keep him around.
If Henrique remains unsigned when the window for offer sheeting opens up, I'm sure Feaster would have no problem signing another player to an offer sheet. The Flames have three 1st round picks this year so they can afford to give up their 1st next year as compensation, should they be able to land a player like Henrique via offer sheet.
As I said, Henrique is clearly a big part of the team going forward. The Devils shouldn't stand idle and risk losing him, or paying him far more than they want to because their hands were forced by an offer sheet.
Get to the table and get it done. The Devils can't afford to lose another core piece.
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I recently wrote a scouting report on draft eligible forward Erik Bradford.
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