Note: RFA Compensation
With July 1st just around the corner I thought it was time to give a refresher 
course on the compensation for restricted free agent signings.
According to NHLSCAP the compensation for last season’s RFA’s was:
Amount
Compensation Due
$863,156 or less
None
$863,156 – $1,307,811
3rd round pick
$1,307,811 – $2,615,623
2nd round pick
$2,615,623 – $3,923,434
1st and 3rd round pick
$3,923,434 – $5,231,246
1st, 2nd, and 3rd round pick
$5,231,246 – $6,539,061
Two 1st’s, one 2nd, one 3rd round pick
$6,539,061 or more
Four 1st round picks
The NHL will release official numbers in the coming weeks but with the salary cap expected to stay close to where it is, these numbers should be about right.
Rotter: Seeing the compensation that would have to be offered does make you think twice about making a run at Phil Kessel or any other big-time RFA. I remember back to 1997 when the Rangers made a huge offer to Joe Sakic, as an RFA, to replace Mark Messier and follow Wayne Gretzky as the focal point of the team. Sakic signed the offer sheet but Colorado matched and the rest is history. The Rangers would have owed Colorado five first round picks as compensation.
