Offer sheets are sort of a dying tactic used in the NHL these days, but apparently the Vancouver Canucks could be bringing it back.
In a recent article by Canucks writer Ben Kuzma, who writes for the Vancouver Province, he suggested that if Ryan Kesler is traded and they don't get a long-term option at center as part of the return, they could look to sign Ryan Johansen to an offer sheet.
Via Vancouver Province: "The other move the Canucks could consider — especially if they move Kesler and don’t get a long-term fit at centre in return — is to tender a July 1 offer sheet to restricted free agent Ryan Johansen. The 21-year-old Port Moody native is coming off a breakout 33-goal season with the Columbus Blue Jackets and even though the body of work is short, the returns could be long with the 6-foot-3, 223-pound centre."
Kuzma went on to say the Blue Jackets would likely match any offer, but that it couldn't hurt to try.
Contract talks between Johansen and the Blue Jackets are now underway and chances are they're complete by July 1 - I'm assuming this is a high priority for Jarmo Kekalainen - but the Jackets were slow to initiate discussions.
Should this drag out, Johansen's camp likely won't have any problems with it as the potential for an offer sheet could drive up the price, and if he signs an offer sheet the Jackets may be forced into signing him to lucrative terms they're not overly comfortable with.
My bet is this gets done before the draft, but a Canucks offer sheet is an intriguing possibility and would certainly spice things up.
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