Pens Plan To Qualify All In-House RFA's

Jayson Megna is one of five Penguins restricted free agents (RFA).

News out of Pittsburgh this morning, per Penguins beat writer from the Post Gazette Dave Molinari, is that the Pittsburgh Penguins plan to extend qualifying offers to all five of their restricted free agents - forwards Brandon Sutter, Jayson Megna and Bobby Farnham and defensemen Simon Despres and Philip Samuelsson - before the June 30th deadline.

Using the Penguins as an example, qualifying a restricted free agent essentially allows them to retain those players' rights for next season.

If the RFA decides not to accept the qualifying offer, he can receive offer sheets from other teams but as soon as he agrees to an offer sheet the Pens have two options.  Either match the offer sheet and retain the player for next season or not match it and receive draft compensation from team who made the offer sheet.

Before Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins fans get overly excited about the news, realize that both Samuelsson and Despres will need to clear waivers to play in the AHL next season. Megna has one more year of waiver exemption.

Still, between now and June 30th the Penguins could also be re-negotiating new contracts with their RFA's much like they did with Zach Sill and Brian Gibbons last off-season, signing them to one year  deals. Both Sill and Gibbons are unrestricted free agents and if not re-signed by July 1st will be free to sign with other teams.