Idaho issues Qualifying Offers

Boise, ID (7/1/13) ? Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Brad Ralph announced Monday that the Idaho Steelheads have issued seven Qualifying Offers to returning ECHL players for the 2013-14 season.The players ? D Gord Baldwin, D Matt Case, D Patrick Cullity, D Connor Goggin, F David deKastrozza, F Austin Fyten and F Tyler GronOnly players with ECHL-level contracts were eligible for Qualifying Offers, meaning players assigned to Idaho from the NHL or AHL could not receive such an offer. Six of the seven played for Idaho last season. Fyten was selected as an ECHL All Star and Case was first- team All ECHL and runner-up for the league?s Defenseman of the Year award. Goggin played for the Trenton Titans, Idaho acquired his rights to close a ?future considerations? deal after the season had ended.Teams that extend a valid qualifying offer to a non-veteran player shall retain the rights to that qualified player for one playing season. A team that extends a valid qualifying offer to a veteran player ? like Baldwin - will retain the rights to that veteran until Aug. 1. After Aug. 1, if the veteran player is not signed to a contract by the team, the veteran shall be deemed a restricted free agent and shall be entitled to seek offers from other ECHL teams. Restricted free agents may not be traded and any offer they get from another ECHL team may be matched.Any player that did not receive a Qualifying Offer is a free agent, free to negotiate with any ECHL team he chooses ? including Idaho.Season Tickets for the 2013-14 season are already on sale! After finishing the regular season with 45 wins and nearly 100 points in the standings, you won?t want to miss any of the action next season when the Steelheads take the ice. Full-season packages begin at as little as $275 per seat. Partial-season packages are available as well. Contact the team?s front office at 208-383-0080 and ask to speak to an account executive today.