Restricted free agent Sebastian Aho has signed a five-year, $42.27-million offer sheet tendered by the Montreal Canadiens.
The Carolina Hurricanes have a week to match the offer sheet, and if it doesn’t the team will be compensated a Canadiens first-, second- and third-round draft pick.
According to Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston, the offer sheet contains the maximum amount of signing bonus allowable and Aho would be owed $21 million in the first calendar year under the new deal.
Aho’s actual salary will be between $700,000 and $750,000 a season, as per Elliotte Friedman, with the rest of the amount coming in bonuses.
Aho’s is the first signed offer sheet the NHL has seen since February 2013 when then-Colorado Avalanche RFA Ryan O’Reilly inked one tendered by the Calgary Flames. The Avalanche matched the deal hours after it was signed.
In react to the offer sheet, Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell said, per The Athletic’s Sara Civian, it was “certainly a surprise, it’s a surprise it wasn’t more” and that the Hurricanes want to keep Aho long-term.
Aho, 21, is fresh off his best season in the NHL, recording 30 goals and 83 points in 82 games for the Hurricanes. The Rauma, Finland native added five goals and 12 points in 15 playoff contests.
