Restricted Free Agents (RFA) & Qualifying Offers

Any player who does not meet the requirements to be an Unrestricted Free Agent (UFA) is a Restricted Free Agent at the conclusion of their contract. 

Offer Sheet/Right of First Refusal

An RFA may sign with a new team, but their current team has a right of first refusal to match the offer.  See Offer Sheet.  However, if an RFA elects for Salary Arbitration, they are no longer able to sign with a new team.

Qualifying Offers

In order for a team to keep a player's RFA status, they must provide a Qualifying Offer.  If they do not provide a Qualifying Offer, the player becomes a UFA.  Qualifying Offers must be provided to the player by the later of the Monday after the Entry Draft or June 25.

Qualifying Offer Requirements:

Most recent salary                                                          Required Qualifying Offer %

$750K to $999K                                                               105% to maximum $1.0M

$1.0M or more - Contract signed before July 2020          100% 

$1.0M or more - contract signed after July 2020              The lesser of: a) 100% of most recent salary b) 120% of Cap Hit  

A Qualifying Offer cannot actually be accepted before July 1.  If a Qualifying Offer is not accepted, it expires by July 15 unless extended in writing by the team. 

A Qualifying Offer must be a one-way offer if the player has: A) played 180 or more games in the previous 3 NHL seasons, B) Played at least 60 NHL games in the previous NHL Season, AND C) not cleared waivers in the period between training camp and the end of the season of the most recent NHL season.

Signing Deadline

An RFA must sign by 5pm EST December 1 in order for the contract to be valid for the season.  An RFA would not have a valid contract and therefore cannot play if signed after December 1