As expected, NHL teams were forced to not qualify restricted free agents because of cap problems caused by the recent pandemic.
The salary cap is just now going up in the 2022-23 season, but clubs are still feeling the effects.
Teams had until 5 pm EST on Monday to tender qualifying offers to any RFA on their roster, or they would become unrestricted free agents by Wednesday.
And some big names were left unqualified. Here are the most notable:
Dylan Strome (CHI) Dominik Kubalik (CHI) Ilya Samsonov (WSH) Sonny Milano (ANA) Sam Steel (ANA) Nicolas Aube-Kubel (COL) Kale Clague (MTL) Rem Pitlick (MTL) Victor Mete (MTL) Danton Heinen (PIT) Ondrej Kase (TOR) Evgeny Svechnikov (WPG) Brendan Lemieux (LAK) Jonathan Dahlen (SJS)
