NHL teams expected to let multiple restricted free agents walk due to qualifying offer prices
There will be a lot of GMs keeping their eyes on qualifying offers. Cap space is tight, and the arbitration walk-away number this summer is $4,538,958. (Teams can't «walk-away» from any award below that number.) If they're not convinced a player's production matches, teams may choose to let them go free in July rather than risk an arbitration award they can't escape.
Some Players to watch include: Ethan Bear (Carolina), Denis Gurianov (Dallas), Kasperi Kapanen (Pittsburgh), Dylan Strome (Chicago), Dominik Kubalik (Chicago), Miles Wood and Pavel Zacha (New Jersey). It's not to say all of these players are guaranteed to hit the market. It's more like, teams are watching to see what decisions are made.
Toronto followers were confused by an Ondrej Kase Instagram post where he thanked Maple Leafs fans, taking it as an indication that he might be leaving. That's premature, I think there are talks underway, but it's not wrong to think the team would be spooked by an arbitration award in a tight cap situation.
GMs around the league will be watching closely to July 13th to see how many more potentials free agents will be added to the pool.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 3 | 105 ANSWERS NHL teams expected to let multiple restricted free agents walk due to qualifying offer prices Out of the potential RFA's will Arbitration rights who is the most likely to be walked away from? | ||
| Kasperi Kapanen | 39 | 37.1 % |
| Dominik Kubalik | 25 | 23.8 % |
| Denis Gurianov | 15 | 14.3 % |
| Ondrej Kase | 26 | 24.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
![Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Sam Bennett (9) celebrates scoring with forward Brandon Hagel (38) and forward Mitch Marner (16) against Team USA during the second period during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/533453.webp "Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Sam Bennett (9) celebrates scoring with forward Brandon Hagel (38) and forward Mitch Marner (16) against Team USA during the second period during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images")
