The Chicago Blackhawks have plenty of questions as to which players will be in their opening night lineup in October, but a couple of answers have emerged as the team issued qualifying offers to several of their restricted free agents.
Players like Brandon Saad and Marcus Kruger were no-brainers to receive qualifying offers, which allow the Blackhawks to match any offer that they’d receive from another team, but some of their other prospects in the minors were more questionable.
According to ESPN Chicago’s Scott Powers, forwards Dennis Rasmussen and Joakim Nordstrom both received qualifying offers from the Blackhawks, but Matt Carey did not and will enter unrestricted free agency on Wednesday morning.
There are still two players whose fates are unclear, as goaltender Mac Carruth and defenseman Viktor Svedberg both will hit restricted free agency on Wednesday if they were qualified by the Hawks.
Even if the players aren't qualified, that doesn't mean that they would be prevented from signing with the Blackhawks. The qualifying offer allows the Blackhawks the right to match a contract offer given to the player by another team.
If the players are not under contract by 11 a.m. on Wednesday, other teams can offer them contracts as NHL free agency begins.
