Bruins front office may shake up the offseason by targeting RFAs Matthew Knies and Kaapo Kakko through seldom-used offer sheet deals.
Bruins exploring outside-the-box move with offer sheets to bolster forward group.
It’s one of the most uncommon weapons in an NHL general manager’s toolkit — and the Boston Bruins might be ready to use it.
Offer sheets, though perfectly legal, are practically taboo in hockey circles. Few front offices dare to use them.
But after a season where the Bruins struggled to generate consistent offense, that hesitancy may be set aside.
Just last year, the St. Louis Blues showed the league it can be done.
They extended offer sheets to Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway, both RFAs at the time, and successfully pulled them away from the Edmonton Oilers. That move raised eyebrows. It also worked.
Now, per Elliotte Friedman, the league’s updated compensation structure is officially out.
The only catch?
Teams must use their own draft picks to make an offer valid.
The Bruins have everything they need — except a third-rounder in 2027, which wouldn’t block the scenarios being discussed.
Kaapo Kakko could fit in Boston’s middle six — at a reasonable price
One player being linked to Boston is Kaapo Kakko — the former second-overall pick who once came into the league with sky-high expectations.
His time in New York never really took off.
Midway through the season, the Rangers shipped him to the Seattle Kraken.
It turned out to be the fresh start he needed.
Kakko came alive after the trade, notching 13 points in his first 14 games with Seattle and ultimately hitting a career-best 44 points in 79 games.
He’s still just 23. That’s not an age you give up on — especially if your team needs speed, size, and wing depth.
Boston could offer him a two-year deal at around $4.5 million.
If Seattle refuses to match, the cost is only a second-round pick.
For a player with untapped upside and a relatively clean health record, it’s a low-risk, high-reward option.
Matthew Knies may be worth the gamble despite steep cost
Then there’s the big swing — Matthew Knies.
Everything about his season with the Toronto Maple Leafs screams “breakout.”
The 21-year-old power forward posted 29 goals and 29 assists — 58 points in total — and carried that momentum into the playoffs.
Because Knies lacks arbitration rights, the Bruins could pounce.
He’s due for a big raise, likely somewhere between $5.5 and $6.5 million per season.
If Boston were to step in with a strong offer sheet, it would cost them a first- and third-rounder.
That’s a steep price.
But Knies is more than just numbers. He brings an edge.
He’s physical, can score in tight, and already looks like someone built for postseason play. Players like him don’t come cheap — and rarely become available without a trade.
If Toronto blinks or can’t match due to cap constraints, Boston could walk away with a top-six fixture.
The clock starts ticking on June 30 at 5 p.m.
That’s when teams can begin contacting RFAs. Contracts can’t be officially signed until July 1, but early groundwork matters.
General Manager Don Sweeney has kept things close to the vest so far.
Still, the noise around Boston considering this route has grown louder over the last week.
If the Bruins want to evolve instead of rebuild, the offer sheet might be the exact kind of disruptive, calculated move that sets a new tone.
