yes it does. I can only think of 2 offer sheets since the lockout, Penner and Hjarlmasson.  Granted I’m a =Wings Homer so I’m impressed I even remembered those 2

Posted by HockeytownOverhaul on 07/25/11 at 08:04 PM ET

Here’s others I can recall:

Flyers—-> Kesler
Oilers—-> Vanek
Canucks—-> Backes
Blues—-> Bernier

Granted, only 6 since the lockout but the last one before that was the Fedorov debacle in the late 90s. But as for the topic, it could be more a case of the price being too steep, the CBA expiring soon with now new agreement even vaguely outlined or other factors Spector outlined.

Posted by Iggy Rules on 07/25/11 at 08:22 PM ET

yes it does.

Why?  Every GM knows as well as every fan that when you send an offer sheet it’s either completely futile because the team will match it, or you’re going to overpay for someone.

That doesn’t show collusion so much as it shows that, as odd as it may seem, most GMs have enough common sense to know that it’s mostly useless.

Posted by Garth on 07/25/11 at 08:23 PM ET

The highest goal scorer the past 2 years and improving every year, not a single offer sheet.  Teams desperate to make the cap floor, why overpay for halfassed players and just spend the money on a marquee player?

Also, the prices are only steep for superstars, not 40pnt players or dynamic young forwards who do yoemans work but have potential.

Then you have the dougie wilson approach which is to MAKE the opposition match that offer sheet to avoid giving the team the hometown discount.

Tried to imply I was not overly serious about my statements with the remainder of my post but I think there’s a case that could be made for collusion

Posted by HockeytownOverhaul on 07/25/11 at 09:04 PM ET

Doughty & Stamkos aren’t good examples to prove collusion.  A very limited number of teams could fit them into their cap/budget space AND have the necessary draft picks to even be eligible to give an offer sheet.

Alzner not receiving an offer sheet is another matter.  The Capitals got him signed to a sweetheart $1.285 million cap hit.  A first round future stud D on a team already up to the cap ceiling and no one throws a one year $3 million offer sheet?  Any Eastern contender should have done it just to screw up the Capitals.  But nothing.  A couple more cases like that and Fehr has a collusion case.

Posted by Jerry on 07/26/11 at 03:15 AM ET

A first round future stud D on a team already up to the cap ceiling and no one throws a one year $3 million offer sheet?

Just because Alzner didn’t sign an offer sheet doesn’t mean he wasn’t approached.

Posted by Garth on 07/26/11 at 10:32 AM ET

Don’t argue with gartth jerry he’s the master of all hypotheticals haha.. this must be what its like to talk to Buttman talking around the truth with hypothetical no one can prove.

Posted by HockeytownOverhaul on 07/26/11 at 01:43 PM ET