Qualifying Offers - Tkachuk
After Matthew Tkachuk completes his current contract, I understand his new Qualifying Offer to be a minimum of $9 mil/season. Is this correct, and are there ways around paying him that amount?
Answer
Tkachuk's Qualifying Offer for the Flames to retain his RFA rights in the 2022 off-season is $9M. That is equal to 100% of his final year Base Salary. Note that the new rules and calculations regarding Qualifying Offers in the 2020 CBA do not apply to Tkachuk's contract because it was signed prior to that CBA.
The Flames don't have to pay him $9M. They can agree to terms with him on a new contract (for any amount that he agrees to) prior to the Qualifying period in the 2022 off-season. If they haven't agreed to terms prior to the qualifying period in the 2022 off-season, they can qualify him, but unless Tkachuk accepts the 1 years $9M offer, they are still free to negotiate and agree to any contract terms.
