To save everyone the trouble of googling, here's the fine print (according to Wikipedia):
In the NHL, players who are restricted free agents can be, after being qualified by their current team, signed by another team to an offer sheet with salary greater than the qualifying offer. Teams have seven days to match the offer, and if the offer is not matched, the team making the offer sheet must give up compensation (see here for details). To be tendered an offer sheet, a player must:
Have at least one NHL contract expire.
Have played at least 80 NHL games if a forward or defenseman, or 28 NHL games if a goalie (applies only for players who have 3 years of NHL service).
Be younger than 27 on July 1.
Be without a contract for the upcoming season.
Be tendered a qualifying offer by the current team by June 25 or the Monday after the Entry Draft (whichever is later)
If any of these conditions is not met, the player becomes an "unrestricted free agent" and cannot receive an offer sheet.
- itwasin
actually just read that Bob Mackenzie clarified that Monahan can be offer sheeted but not Gaudreau....even tho his entry level deal is done, the first year of the deal was just a single game and does not count toward the 3 year of pro service
