Qualifying Offers, Thomas, Luongo & DP

Per Arthur Staple, Isles have made offers to draft picks Jesse Graham, Loic Leduc, Adam Pelech and Ville Pokka. Needed to make offers by today to keep rights. They did not offer contracts to Brenden Kichton or Mitchell Theoret. Both may now be selected in the NHL Draft on June 30.

Kichton was named WHL D-Man of the year last season. 

 

 

An NHL source had reported back when the news broke, that Kichton wanted 2nd-3rd round money, not an ELC in line with his 5th round draft position which is more of the norm, and had not signed the ELC offered by Isles Mgmt.

On Kichton, you cant threaten mgmt. Big success aside, he is a prospect & needed to prove himself in NHL before demanding anything. I did like Theoret, but when prospects are as deep as Isles pool is, your spots are limited and need to chose based on skill & chemistry. I like Pelech & Pokka alot. Impressed me during Isles camp & scrimmage.

Tim Thomas may attempt comeback.

Per Bob McKenzie, "It's believed NYI would, under right circumstances, have interest in VAN G Roberto Luongo, tho 1st order of biz is to gauge cost on Nabokov. Nabokov is UFA. As for circumstances on Luongo, almost goes without saying it would mean VAN taking Rick DiPietro for compliance buyout. DiPietro's buyout is steep, $1.5M per year for next 16 years, not to be confused with Luongo's buyout #'s: a shade over $1.5M x 18 years. No question in my mind Luongo is a good "hockey" fit for NYI but whether Isles or Canucks could ever finesse a workable deal is the issue."