While speaking to reporters, including Matt Vensel, GM Kyle Dubas confirmed that the Pittsburgh Penguins will not be sending qualifying offers to any of their restricted free agents (RFAs) besides Philip Tomasino, Connor Dewar, and Vasily Ponamarev (to retain his NHL signing rights).
Thus, Pierre-Olivier Joseph, Emil Bemstrom, Taylor Gauthier, and Raivis Ansons will not be receiving qualifying offers from the Penguins before July 1 and will become unrestricted free agents.
Joseph appeared in 47 games last season split between the St. Louis Blues and Penguins, where he posted zero goals, three assists, 36 hits, and a minus-22 rating.
Bemstrom, 26, had one assist, 12 hits, and an even plus/minus rating in 14 games with Pittsburgh this past season. He also recorded 23 goals and 48 points in 48 games with their AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Gauthier, 24, had an 18-10-2 record, a .928 save percentage, and a 2.06 goals-against average in 30 games this past campaign with the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL.
Ansons, 23, had one goal, 12 penalty minutes, and a plus-3 rating in nine games this season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The 6-foot-1 forward was selected by the Penguins with the 149th overall pick of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.
Ex-Penguins Forward Lands Extension With OilersAccording to PuckPedia, former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Kasperi Kapanen is signing a one-year, $1.3 million contract to stay with the Edmonton Oilers.
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