Predators Extend Qualifying Offers to Six

The Predators have extended qualifying offers to six restricted free agents, including their two leading scorers from the 2016-17 campaign.
Nashville qualified forwards Pontus Aberg, Viktor Arvidsson, Frederick Gaudreau, Ryan Johansen and Austin Watson, as well as goaltender Marek Mazanec. The qualifying offers mean the Predators would like to re-sign the six players and will have the opportunity to match any offer sheet they may receive and would receive draft pick compensation for contracts valued above $1,295,571, if the Preds chose not to match.

Qualifying offers are one-year deals based on a 10 percent salary increase on the player's previous contract. The players are welcome to sign them on July 1, but traditionally, the deals are used as a stopgap until longer-term contracts can be agreed upon.
Any of the six players are free to ink long-term deals with Nashville anytime from now until (if needed) salary arbitration, which is in roughly a month.
Qualifying offers were not extended to defenseman Jaynen Rissling and goaltender Jonas Gunnarsson, meaning they will become unrestricted free agents on July 1. For the latest information on RFAs and UFAs on the Preds,
visit the Contract Tracker
.