Blades Make Qualifying Offers

The Everblades made their qualifying offers to players last Thursday. They were only able to make these offers to players that had been on the season ending roster.

From what I understand, the deal with the offer is that a non-veteran player has until August 1st to accept the offer. If he does not the team can either sign him for whatever they want or decide not to pursue anything further. Either way, the players ECHL rights are owned by the team.

Veteran players, on the other hand, are a little different. After the August 1st the player become a restricted free agent. This allows other teams to make an offer to the player. The team who held his rights then has7 days to match the offer. If that player receives no offer by the 31st he becomes an unrestricted free agent and anyone can sign him.

The Everblades made offers to these players:
- Brad Snetsinger
- Eric Olimb
- Bobby Raymond
- David Fischer
- Ross Carlson
- Dusty Collins
- Scott Pitt
- Ryan Zapolski

The interesting part of all of this was a little tidbit from Greg Poss in the NDN story on the offers being made (the full story, with some great quotes from Poss, is here).

"Second-year Blades coach Greg Poss said the team has already agreed to contracts with some of the players from the season-ending roster who did not receive offers Friday."

 You may be wondering who was on the season ending roster. Good thing I'm here for you.

I've put a line through the players who have signed in Europe and highlighted the players who have received qualifying offers.

- Mathieu Roy
- Drew Larman
- Ross Carlson
- Alex Imbeault
- Brad Snetsinger
- Scott Pitt
- Tyler Helfrich
- Dusty Collins
- Mike Kennedy
- Nick Tarnasky
- Bobby Raymond
- David Fischer
- Brad Good
- Eric Olimb
- Evan Stephens
- Deron Cousens
- Mike Egener
- Trevor Hendrikx
- Mike Zacharias
- Ryan Zapolski.

It's pretty interesting to see who is left, isn't it? If  what he said was true, some of the players on the season ending roster who were not given offers are already signed. It's interesting right? Mathieu Roy and Drew Larman, two players I said I wanted back in a post at the end of the season, might be signed already.

I think the only reason Olimb was given an offer when he all ready has a contract in Europe was to ensure we maintain his rights. I'm also pretty sure that Alex Imbeault was serious about retiring.

Obviously, the possibility of certain players re-signing is exciting. Of course the Blades will probably pull their usual once a week signing announcement on Thursday between noon and two (you think I'm joking don't you? I'm not, just wait), and make us all wait and wonder. Jerks.