Pool Worthy RFA's Not Qualified

It isn't too often that a pool worthy player isn't qualified as a restricted free agent, but that is indeed the case for defenseman Justin Schultz, who wasn't qualified by the Penguins by today's deadline and he will become an unrestricted free agent on Friday.

Schultz was the benefactor of being a free agent out of college and the Edmonton Oilers were willing to pay big money to secure his services and being a restricted free agent, meant that any qualifying offer had to offer a minimal raise for any new deal.  His qualifying offer would have been north of $4 million and having only 18 points in 63 games last season, being a healthy scratch for those games missed, the Penguins were not going to get good value from him.

Now that he is going to unrestricted free agency, the Penguins could still vie for his services, but he will be open to any offer from any team.

The Calgary Flames got into the act, not qualifying forward Joe Colborne and keeping his restricted free agency status.  It is very likely that there is no need for the team to qualify him, as there could be a deal already pending for his services, but it does have some strange optics when it happens.  UPDATE: A tweet that came out this afternoon suggested that the arbitration rights were a big factor into why Colborne and a couple other players were not qualified.

Colborne was ranked 109th among forwards in scoring with 19 goals and 44 points in 73 games and has been hinted at as one of the players the team needs moving forward.

Adding to this list is forward Brandon Pirri, who wasn't qualified by the Anaheim Ducks, as teams continue to clean house a little.  Pirri was ranked 195th among all forwards in scoring in 2016, as he finished up with 14 goals and 29 points on the season.  One would have to believe that Pirri would be a player that lands on his feet in this off-season, getting a new job somewhere.  His 14-goal total is nothing to be sneezed at.