Wild Insider: The offer sheet shuffle

Edmonton enraged the NHL with its offseason offer sheets. The tactic worked but likely won't be widely copied.

By Michael Russo, Star Tribune

Last update: October 29, 2007 - 12:34 AM

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WILD WEEK IN REVIEW Record:1-1-1 The Wild opened the week last Sunday by defeating Colorado 3-2 on Mikko Koivus dramatic winner late to start the season 7-0-1. But Wednesday, it blew a 3-0 lead in Calgary en route to a 5-3 loss and worst collapse in team history. And Thursday, the Wild was happy to take a point in a 5-4 shootout loss in Edmonton after having to battle back from a pair of two-goal deficits. Star Tribune's star of the week: Brian Rolston, left wing The teams leading scorer the past two seasons is off to another rousing start, scoring goals in all three games last week on 15 shots to lead the Wild in goal scoring with five. This week: Four games Today: at Colorado, 2 p.m.; Tuesday: vs. Pittsburgh, 6 p.m.; Thursday: vs. St. Louis, 7 p.m.; Saturday: vs. Calgary, 7 p.m. A busy week for the Wild is highlighted by the first Minnesota visit of 20-year-old Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, who became the first teenager in major pro sports history to win a scoring title last year. Oh, and youngsters Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal, Ryan Whitney and Marc-Andre Fleury arent too shabby either. They said it: "This is why we shouldnt allow Gabby in the locker room." Mark Parrish on the deafening Slovak song Marian Gaborik popped into the CD player to celebrate last Sundays victory over Colorado. MICHAEL RUSSO

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Kevin Lowe did nothing illegal, of course, yet the Edmonton Oilers general manager is treated like he cheated on his taxes while running a dog-fighting ring.

Even though the offer sheet mechanism in the collective-bargaining agreement is not highly regarded by colleagues, Lowe was within his rights when he targeted the Buffalo Sabres' Thomas Vanek and tendered him a seven-year, $50 million offer.

But he infuriated the league by messing with another team's economics and setting a new market for a top player with no arbitration rights coming out of an entry-level deal.

The Sabres retained Vanek, but then Lowe, knowing the Ducks were inches from the $50.3 million salary cap and a year from having to give restricted free agents Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry massive raises, snatched forward Dustin Penner with a five-year, $21.25 million offer sheet.

The Ducks didn't match, instead taking the first-, second- and third-round pick compensation package.

Suddenly, there's a fear among NHL fans that if this strategy becomes epidemic, young stars could be stolen away each summer. But the reality is it's doubtful there will be a surge of offer sheets each summer.

It takes a convergence of circumstances to align -- the need, the salary cap room, the willingness to overpay a player that could have negative effects on one's cap for years and the unencumbered draft picks, meaning if you'll owe a first, second and third but traded your second in 2008, you can't give up your second in 2009.

So it's not like 30 teams can tender an offer sheet each summer. In fact, there could be only a handful. "The stars really aligned for us to do it because we had acquired a lot of assets -- three for Ryan Smyth and five for Chris Pronger ... we had the cap room and we also were really in need of a player," Lowe said.

Still, if you have a quality restricted free agent and you haven't planned for a way to retain him, there's always the risk somebody could swoop in and throw a boatload of dough at him.

What the Florida Panthers did last summer by signing Nathan Horton to a six-year deal worth $4 million per and Stephen Weiss to a six-year deal worth $3.1 million per might become the norm. Likewise, San Jose got preemptive with Milan Michalek and signed him to a six-year, $26 million extension and Pittsburgh extended Sidney Crosby's contract for five years at $43.5 million.

In this day and age where you're almost destined to lose good players because of accelerated free agency and a fixed cap, it's imperative to identify early the core of your team and lock them up long-term.

That's why the Wild made long-term commitments to youngsters Mikko Koivu and Brent Burns and might opt to talk with Pierre-Marc Bouchard after Jan. 1. But signing so many kids long-term could result in losing potential unrestricted free agents Brian Rolston or Pavol Demitra.

Calgary has to re-sign Dion Phaneuf, and it could affect its ability to re-sign potential unrestricted free agents Miikka Kiprusoff and Daymond Langkow.

Next summer, other top restricted free agents include the Panthers' Jay Bouwmeester, the Rangers' Henrik Lundqvist and Getzlaf and Perry.

Some teams will struggle. "I don't think offer sheets will become an epidemic, but if you don't plan, you're going to be potentially vulnerable for one," Wild GM Doug Risebrough said.

Michael Russo • mrusso@startribune.com

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