Florida extends qualifying offers

ESTERO, Fla – Qualifying offers have been extended to eight players on the Florida Everblades of the ECHL.   These offers were announced by president and general manager Craig Brush and the Blades new head coach Greg Poss. Those players receiving offers are defenseman Tim Maxwell, Phil Paquet, Mitch McColm and Scott Hotham.   Also receiving offers were forwards Shea Guthrie, Eric Lampe and Matt Caria as well as goaltender Adrien Lemay. If a player signed a contract prior to the July first deadline, they did not need to receive a qualifying offer.   Teams are entitled to a maximum of eight qualified players.   There is also a maximum limit of four veterans.   (A veteran is a player with 260 regular season games played at the professional level prior to the new 2010-2011 hockey season). A qualifying offer remains valid until August first.   At that time if no action is taken, the offer becomes void.   The team may decide to not do anything further or they may sign the player to any salary level. When a qualifying offer is made to a veteran player, the team retains the rights to that player until the August first deadline.   If the veteran does not sign prior to August first, he will become a restricted free agent and can seek offers from other ECHL teams.   (Restricted free agents may not be traded). If a restricted free agent receives an offer from another team, and the player wishes to sign with that team, all involved parties must be notified (the team with the player’s rights, the offering team, the ECHL and the Professional Hockey Players Association).   This allows the team with the players rights, the opportunity to have seven days to exercise its right to match the contract offer. When a restricted free agent has not signed with an ECHL team by August 31, that player will become an unrestricted free agent. The Florida Everblades will begin the 2010-2011 season at home on October 15, 2010.   They will host division rivals the Gwinnett Gladiators at Germain Arena. Contact the writer at: sweatherhead@prohockeynews.com