Buffalo Sabers extend qualifying offers to four RFAs

Luukkonen, Jokiharju, Krebs and Malenstyn receive offers; Bryson, Stillman and Sjallin become unrestricted free agents

Sunday, June 30 at 5 p.m. ET was the deadline for teams to extend qualifying offers to their own restricted free agents, and the Buffalo Sabers had seven players on their roster who were nearing the deadline.

The Sabres announced just before the deadline that four players had received qualifying offers – goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, defenseman Henri Jokiharju, center Peyton Krebs and one of the Sabres’ newest signings, winger Beck Malenstyn, who was traded yesterday from the Washington Capitals.

With offers extended to players, this maintains their restricted free agent status, which then gives the Sabers the right to match offer lists for any of the four players once free agency opens on Monday July 1 at noon. Players with an offer can then accept Buffalo’s qualifying offer or continue to negotiate terms of a new deal.

However, three players will become unrestricted free agents tomorrow, all three defensemen – Jacob Bryson, Riley Stillman and Calle Sjalin.