Nashville Predators extend qualifying offers to most of their RFA's, Grebeshkov to become unrestricted free agent

The Nashville Predators have extended qualifying offers to most of their restricted free agents, but opted not to do so for defenseman Denis Grebeshkov and forwards Dustin Boyd and Peter Olvecky, who will instead become unrestricted free agents as of July 1. By giving qualifying offers, the Predators have retained the right to compensation if another team signs those RFA's to an offer sheet this summer, while Nashville continues negotiating with them on a new contract.

In order to qualify Grebeshkov, the Predators would have had to match his $3.15MM salary from last season, and while his offensive talents are sorely needed on a Nashville team with a 29th-ranked power play, David Poile decided he couldn't afford to absorb that contract. Hornqvist in particular will receive a major pay raise, and the team has to also look ahead to extending Shea Weber's deal, which expires next summer. The general consensus is that he probably won't get $3.15MM on the open market, which is part of why Edmonton was willing to trade him to Nashville in the first place.

Boyd's departure likely signals increased playing time for Cal O'Reilly, who was often a healthy scratch after Boyd was acquired at the Trade Deadline.

By letting Grebeshkov and Boyd both walk, the team will have gotten basically nothing in exchange for the 2nd- and 4th-round picks in last weekend's draft (despite word from some circles that Poile was trying to trade Grebeshkov's rights in order to get another pick). Grebeshkov's injury was unfortunate, limiting him to just 4 regular season games with Nashville, but Boyd didn't make much of an impact during 18 regular season and 4 playoff games as a Pred. Peter Olvecky spent little time at the NHL level this season and didn't seem to be a long-term fit with Nashville.

The players receiving qualifying offers are Patric Hornqvist, Cody Franson, Ryan Parent, Mike Santorelli, Mark Dekanich, Robert Dietrich, and Teemu Laakso.