Offer sheets are still very much alive in the NHL, and David Pagnotta says the New Jersey Devils may not be finished after their failed push for Barrett Hayton.
Utah matched New Jersey’s offer sheet for Hayton, ending that attempt and keeping the forward in place. But Pagnotta believes the Devils are not about to shrug it off and move on.
"I don't think the Devils are just gonna sit around after this one and go, 'eh we took a shot, oh well'...
I think this is gonna be an interesting offseason," Pagnotta added.
Those comments, which were shared by the NHL Rumour Report account, have been making the rounds since yesterday. And now another name is being floated: Adam Fantilli.
According to the chatter, a new offer sheet could be coming within the next few hours, with Fantilli’s name in the mix. If New Jersey goes down that road again, it would be a second swing at the strategy, and the Flyers are also part of the conversation.
This summer has already shown that the restricted free agent market can get loud in a hurry. A team that has just had an offer sheet matched now has a clearer sense of how the whole process works, and that could make the Devils even more willing to keep pressing.
Montreal could also be watching closely. Kent Hughes and the Canadiens are mentioned as another club that might be tempted to explore the same path.
If New Jersey does jump back in, the next target would bring a lot more attention than the first one.
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