Compensation for Signing a NHL Restricted Free Agent

Each year there may be a rumor or two involving a team signing a restricted free agent to an offer sheet. The draft compensation that teams would have to pay for signing a 2011 NHL restricted free agent without the contract being matched. We also included compensation dating back to 2008  for your viewing pleasure.

Each year the salaries will go up at the same rate with the league player salary average. Teams have to use their own drafts picks for the compensation.

2011 Compensationfrom ProHockeyTalk at NBC Sports and Craig Custance of The Sporting News

  • $1,034,249 or below: No compensation
  • $1,034,250 – $1,567,043: A 3rd round draft pick.
  • $1,567,044 – $3,134,088: A 2nd round draft pick.
  • $3,134,089 – $4,701,131: A 1st and 3rd round draft pick.
  • $4,701,132 – $6,268,175: A 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round draft pick.
  • $6,268,176 – $7,835,219: Two 1st’s, a 2nd and a 3rd round draft pick.
  • Over $7,835,219: Four 1st round draft picks.

2010 Compensation

  • $1,020,348 or below: No compensation.
  • $1,020,349 to $1,545,981: A 3rd round draft pick.
  • $1,545,982 to $3,091,963: A 2nd round draft pick.
  • $3,091,964 to $4,637,944: A 1st and 3rd round draft pick.
  • $4,637,945 to $6,183,925: A 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round draft pick.
  • $6,183,926 to $7,729,907: Two 1st’s, a 2nd and a 3rd round draft pick.
  • Over $7,729,907: Four 1st round draft picks.

2009 Compensation

  • $994,433 or below: No compensation
  • $994,434 to $1,506,716: A 3rd round draft pick.
  • $1,506,717 to $3,013,434: A 2nd round draft pick.
  • $3,013,435 to $4,520,150: A 1st and 3rd round draft pick.
  • $4,520,151 to $6,026,867: A 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round draft pick.
  • $6,026,868 to $7,533,584: Two 1st’s, a 2nd and a 3rd round draft pick.
  • Over $7,533,584: Four 1st round draft picks.

2008 Compensation

  • $863,156 or less: No compensation
  • $863,156 – $1,307,812: A 3rd round draft pick.
  • $1,307,813 – $2,615,625: A 2nd round draft pick.
  • $2,615,626 – $3,923,437: A 1st and 3rd round draft pick.
  • $3,923,438 – $5,231,249: A 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round draft pick.
  • $5,231,250 – $6,539,062: Two 1st’s, a 2nd and a 3rd round draft pick.
  • Over $6,539,062: Four 1st round draft picks.