It was announced today that the Blackhawks would only be extending two qualifying offers to their pending Restricted Free agents. The two players who received their QO’s are defenseman Caleb Jones and Forward Philipp Kurashev.
Qualifying offers must be extended to Restricted Free Agents in order for the team to retain their negotiation rights.
The amount a player receives as a qualifying offer is based off their previous contract. Here is a breakdown courtesy of CapFriendly:
- 110% of the base salary if the base salary is less than or equal to $660,000
- 105% of the base salary if the base salary is greater than $660,000 or less than $1,000,000. However, this qualifying offer cannot exceed $1,000,000.
- 100% of the base salary if the base salary is equal to or greater than $1,000,000.
Players who are not extended qualifying offers immediately become Unrestricted Free Agents. They are free to negotiate with any team once the free agency window opens on Wednesday, July 13th.
Caleb Jones
Jones, who was acquired last year from Edmonton in the Duncan Keith trade, is set to receive a $900,000 qualifying offer.
This will allow the Blackhawks to retain Jones’ rights and re-sign him to a new contract.
Caleb is coming off his first year as a member of the Blackhawks. He had the best year of his career, posting five goals and ten assists over 51 games.
Philipp Kurashev
Kurashev, who was selected by the Hawks in the 4th round of the 2018 draft, is set to receive an $800,000 qualifying offer.
He is also now in a position to negotiate his next contract with the Hawks.
Kurashev took a step forward from his previous year as a Hawk but found himself in Rockford early on in the season. That stint was short-lived as he would return to Chicago after only three games in the AHL.
Kurashev appeared in 67 games throughout the season, posting six goals and fifteen assists along the way.
RFA’s Who Did Not Receive A Qualifying Offer
Six Restricted Free Agents did not receive their qualifying offers and will become Unrestricted Free Agent’s this Wednesday.
Those six players are:
Andrei Altybarmakyan, Cameron Morrison, Wyatt Kalynum, Cale Morris, Dominik Kubalik, and Dylan Strome.
Two of those names obviously stick out from the rest. Dominik Kubalik and Dylan Strome were mostly everyday roster players for the Blackhawks over the last few years.
Both put up great numbers and both would be great to have on your roster. The only thing is, the Hawks are trying to lose.
These players make this team better and for that, they say goodbye.
Kubalik, who was due a $4 million qualifying offer, put up decent numbers over the course of his Hawks tenure. In 202 games the winger had 62 goals and 54 assists.
Strome, who was due a $3.6 million qualifying offer, had a more complicated experience in Chicago. Despite posting 154 points in 225 games, Strome constantly found himself as a healthy scratch with the previous regime.
Strome finished off the season playing well under his new Head Coach Derek King. So well, that many thought there was a good chance the Hawks would re-sign him. Unfortunately, it did not matter.
Many of these decisions would have come as a surprise to fans if you asked them a year ago. But after last week’s draft, everything is on the table.
Check back in Wednesday for coverage on any free agent’s that sign with the Blackhawks.
Very interesting article. Tnx
I would like to see what the hawks do to fill out their roster. I think they’ve lost 5 fwds off last years roster. Interesting times.