Yesterday the Capitals put in qualifying offers to Tom Wilson and Madison Bowey (as well as some AHL players). This means is that they retain their rights and the players stay restricted free agents as scheduled. The teams have to offer at least a certain increase to retain the rights.
There is probably a bit more to it, but that's the gist. If a player is not qualified, he becomes an unrestricted free-agent. The big news was that Devonte Smith-Pelly was not qualified.
Smith-Pelly is an OK player. He got in 77 games and had a 44% possession rating, which was negative 4% relative to his team. He scored 7 goals and 16 points. He added another 7 goals in the playoffs. And won a Stanley Cup.
15 regulars on Washington produced higher shots-for / 60 ratings than he did, and he had among the worst shots-allowed stats on the team.
Last year the Capitals did not give Brent Connolly a qualifying offer, and then later signed him to a two year deal. The Capitals could make a similar move here, but realistically, I doubt it.
You would think the seven playoff goals and the Stanley Cup would at least get him a bit of a raise. I would think that seven goals (20+ goal pace) on the way to a championship are worth at least a one year contract as a reward, if nothing else. DSP is a replaceable player, don't get me wrong. But what's a league minimum raise to a guy who just helped win you a Cup? This is pretty cut-throat.
Not a day goes by where I don't read something relating to the NHL and about how teams need to add character, winning experience, and leadership. If these are actual things and not just buzz words thrown around without actually meaning it, then DSP should definitely be worth a raise on the league minimum.
The Capitals wouldn't have won the Cup without DSP's 7 goals. For this, they paid him $600K. It's not like the NHL doesn't always reward players with retroactive salaries. At worst you 'waste' $1 million out of $80?
I don't like it.