Another step in the off-season’s activities is tendering qualifying offers (QO’s) to Restricted Free Agents (RFA’s) to keep their rights (rights). QO’s were due today, and the Caps qualified the following players: Steve Eminger, John Erskine, Tomas Fleischmann, Jamie Hunt, Milan Jurcina, Jakub Klepis, Brooks Laich, Dave Steckel and Brian Sutherby.
The Caps declined to offer a QA to Kris Beech, Trevor Byrne, Maxime Daigneault, Jonas Johansson, Jiri Novotny, Louis Robitaille, Matt Stefanishion and Joey Tenute, who all become free agents. This doesn’t affect the Caps a great deal, but does clear room in Hershey for players such as Andrew Gordon, Andrew Joudrey, Sami Lepisto, and Travis Morin to get more ice time. It also opens a goaltending spot behind Frederic Cassivi, perhaps paving the way for Daren Machesny to spend the full season in Hershey.
Names like Beech and Johansson were expected to not be qualified, though it’s a slight surprise to see Joey Tenute or Louis Robitaille, both hard workers for the Bears, to be let go. Jiri Novotny is the only real NHL level skater set free, though his skill set as a checking line center is something the Caps have in abundance.
So, no real shocks, and hockey’s circle of life continues — 8 players on the way out, their spots to be taken up by younger players being given the opportunity to prove themselves.
4 Comments
Max II was 23-6 with a .910 SV% and a 2.64 GAA in his first season in the A - a bit surprsing, to me at least, to see him not qualified.
Not feeling the Max D non tender. I know they like Machesney and Neuvirth…but come on. After the season Daigneault had it appeared he was turning the corner.
Oh well. Another Maxime Mystery!
That Zubrus trade doesn’t look to good now. I’ll admit, I liked it when it happened, but getting two 2ndrounders for your top center, one of the locker room leaders, one of the very few proven players in hindsight does not make a good deal. Guess GMGM didn’t have better options though..
I’m not surprised about the Daigneault thing. Hearing Voge’s stand on this situation - I now he doesn’t make those decisions but he talks to the people who make them - you could kind of sense that the Caps weren’t really high on him.
Agreed on Max D.
And it’s not like Novo was some sort of Winter Rooster either…
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