After all the razzle and dazzle of the annual NHL Draft, it's now time for all the excitement of procedural restricted free agent qualifying as teams begin to figure out their contractual and cap hit situations as they approach free agency on July 1.
All potential Group 2 (restricted) free agents – players whose contracts have expired but aren't 27 yet, basically – have to receiving a qualify offer by their NHL club by 3 p.m. MT on Monday for their rights to be maintained.
WHAT'S A QUALIFYING OFFER?
A qualifying offer is functionally a token contract offer issued to maintain a Group 2 player's rights.