Can NHL teams turn to restricted free-agent market for relief?

The NHL free-agency market isn't quite heating up. After the Alex Tuch sign-and-trade, it's possible it may fail to launch at all.

In the wake of an unrestricted free agent market littered with landmines, perhaps it will finally be the restricted free agent market where teams feast. 

There's been more action on the restricted free agent market in recent years, including St. Louis's dual offer sheets to then-Edmonton skaters Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg. Last season, the threat of an offer sheet by Carolina spurred the Rangers into trading defenseman K'Andre Miller. 

There are three players whose status as restricted free agents could lead to them changing teams.

The tenuous Jason Robertson situation for Dallas Stars

Robertson is a legitimate star. For his career, he averages 88 points per 82 games and has already scored 40 goals three times in his career. He turns 27 in July, making him an ideal fit for a team looking to win right now.

The Stars, window open wide, believe they should be that team. They've been actively negotiating a new contract with Robertson.

The issue is that Dallas is very tight to the salary cap. The Stars are 28th in cap space with slightly more than $9.4 million available, according to Puck Pedia. That's less available than what sports consulting firm AFP Analytics projects — close to $12 million per season. The Stars would need to clear at least one contract and possibly more to fit Robertson, especially if his number is higher than the projection. 

An offer sheet seems less likely to make sense than simply the threat of one, since successful offer sheets historically require a short-term commitment followed by a long-term extension. The threat of one could force Dallas into a trade.