Dustin Wolf and Jakob Pelletier headline the restricted free agents the Flames sent qualifying offers
The 25-year-old forward will become an unrestricted free agent after the Flames declined to extend a qualifying offer to him before Sunday’s 3 p.m. deadline.
According to Athletic and TSN Insider Chris Johnston, the NHL and NHLPA had discussions about “changing how the status of those players was treated while the legal process played out” but decided against it.
The Flames did extend qualifying offers to the following seven players:
Dustin Wolf
Jakob Pelletier
RW Adam Klapka
Ilya Solovoyov
Drafted in the seventh round of the 2020 NHL Draft, the Belarusian made his first appearances with the Flames when he played in 10 games and picked up three assists. More of a defensive defenceman than somebody you’re expecting to see on the power-play, Solovyov was a big part of the Wranglers blueline this past season and at 23 years old, it does seem like he’s knocking on the door of more NHL opportunities.
Cole Schwindt
Acquired in the blockbuster trade that sent Matthew Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers, Schwindt has been intent on proving he isn’t just the “other guy” in the trade that brought Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar to Calgary. He played four games with the Flames this year and emerged as an important member of the Wranglers. As a centre, there could be an opportunity for Schwindt to earn a lot more playing time with the Flames next year and at only 23 years old, the best is presumably yet to come.
Yan Kuznetsov
Drafted in the second round in 2020, it’s sort of hard to believe Kuznetsov is still only 22 years old. He made his NHL debut in January with the Flames in a game against the Ottawa Senators and at 6-foot-5, 220 lbs. the Russian has definitely got the physical tools to get more ice time at the top level.
Nikita Okhotiuk
In addition to Dube, the Flames did not extend a qualifying off to: