TAMPA — The Tampa Bay Lightning took care of some business in advance of the free agency period that opens up this week.
Tampa Bay issued qualifying offers Monday to five players who are set to become restricted free agents on Wednesday while five other players were not issued their qualifying offers and are set to be unrestricted free agents when the market opens — including former American Hockey League defenseman of the year Mark Barberio.
Tampa Bay also re-signed veteran depth forward Mike Blunden to a one-year, two-way contract.
Restricted free agents are eligible to sign an offer sheet with an other team, but by issuing a qualifying offer, Tampa Bay retains the rights to match any contract offer or receive draft pick compensation.