With the draft and free agency fast approaching, there is a looming deadline that teams must be mindful of, the one for qualifying offers. Who do the Habs have to qualify and how much must the offers be?
Qualifying offers are based on a players’ NHL/AHL salary (excluding any signing bonus money) and recent NHL service time. Here are the various thresholds and rules:
– NHL salary equal to or under $660,000: The offer must be 110% of the players’ prior year salary.
– NHL salary over $660,000 but under $1 million: The offer must be 105% of the players’ prior year salary.
– NHL salary equal to or over $1 million: The offer must be 100% of the players’ prior year salary.
Players with at least 180 career NHL games (including at least 60 last season) who did not clear waivers in 2014-15 must receive a one-way qualifying offer. All other players can receive a two-way qualifying offer, including veteran players who were injured last season and did not play in 60 games.
Anyone who was on a two-way contract last season and is receiving a two-way qualifying offer cannot be offered a pay cut on their AHL salary. Anyone who wasn’t on a two-way deal last year but is receiving a two-way offer can be offered the AHL minimum salary.
And just when you thought that was enough of the technicalities, there’s more. Because of the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season, there is a proration formula for the 180 games played threshold. I’ll spare you the ugly calculation and simply mention when it comes into play for Montreal which fortunately is only once.
Let’s move onto the important part. Who do the Habs have to qualify and what do the offers have to be? Here’s the list:
Michael Bournival: As he has fewer than 180 NHL games played in his career let alone the last three years, he’s subject to a two-way offer. His NHL salary excluding signing bonus last season was $650,000 while his AHL salary was $67,500. This means his qualifying offer is $715,000 for an NHL salary and $67,500 for an AHL salary.
Drayson Bowman: As he has fewer than 180 NHL games played in his career let alone the last three years, he’s subject to a two-way offer. His NHL salary last season was $575,000 while his AHL salary was $150,000. This means his qualifying offer is $632,500 for an NHL salary and $150,000 for an AHL salary.
Brian Flynn: He has played 168 games in the past three years, 63 last season, and did not clear waivers at any time. Once you factor in the proration formula from 2012-13 though, he is subject to a one-way qualifying offer even though he hasn’t played 180 career games. His NHL salary last year was $650,000 meaning his qualifying offer is for $715,000.
Alex Galchenyuk: He has played 193 games in the past three years, 80 last season, and did not clear waivers at any time. Accordingly, he must receive a one-way offer. His NHL salary excluding signing bonus last year was $832,500. This means his qualifying offer is for $874,125 (and will assuredly be rejected).
Eric Tangradi: As he has fewer than 180 NHL games played in his career let alone the last three years, he’s subject to a two-way offer. His NHL salary last season was $700,000 and he was on a one-way deal meaning there was no minor league provision. This means his qualifying offer is $735,000 for an NHL salary and $42,375 for an AHL salary.
Christian Thomas: As he has fewer than 180 NHL games played in his career let alone the last three years, he’s subject to a two-way offer. His NHL salary excluding signing bonus last season was $810,000 while his AHL salary was $67,500. This means his qualifying offer is $850,500 for an NHL salary and $67,500 for an AHL salary.
Jarred Tinordi: As he has fewer than 180 NHL games played in his career let alone the last three years, he’s subject to a two-way offer. His NHL salary excluding signing bonus last season was $810,000 while his AHL salary was $67,500. This means his qualifying offer is $850,500 for an NHL salary and $67,500 for an AHL salary.
(Magnus Nygren is also due a qualifying offer but since he already has signed in Sweden, I’ll skip the details. If the Habs want to keep his rights, they’ll send him the offer fully knowing he’ll reject.)
Although these are the minimum offers that the Habs must provide, don’t be surprised if a couple of players on this list (particularly Thomas and Tinordi) take NHL salaries lower than what you see above. It is legal to do so and it can be beneficial to the player. Teams will offer a higher AHL salary in these instances (meaning more guaranteed money) and in a cap world, a cheaper cap hit increases the likelihood of them being on the NHL roster.
Qualifying offers must be extended by the later of June 25th or the first Monday following the NHL draft. This year, the first Monday after the draft is the 29th so offers must be made by 5:00 PM EST on that date. Offers cannot technically be accepted until July 1st but they have been many times before (including Morgan Ellis earlier this month). The offers automatically expire on July 15th at 5:00 PM EST.
Anyone who fails to receive an offer (my hunch is that Bowman and/or Tangradi will be in this category), the Habs will lose their rights and those players will become unrestricted free agents on July 1st at 12:00 PM EST.