Qualifying offers are submitted so an RFA's prior team may retain the Right of First Refusal or Draft Choice Compensation over that player
A qualifying offer must be tendered by 5PM Eastern Time on the later of the 25th June or the Monday after the NHL Entry Draft.
The offer may not be accepted prior to the 1st July and expires on the 15th July.
Offer expiration may be extended by the team to a new calendar date in writing up to the original expiration
A qualifying offer's minimum salary is:
110% the previous year's base NHL salary if that was under $660,000
105% the previous year's base NHL salary if between $660,000 and $1,000,000
100% the previous year's base NHL salary if that was at least $1,000,000
For contracts signed after 10 July 2020, the overriding upper limit is 120% the previous contract's AAV
A qualifying offer must be one way if the player:
Has played 180 games over the past three NHL seasons (for goalies, dressing as the backup counts)
Has played 60 games over the past NHL season (for goalies, dressing as the backup counts)
Has not cleared waivers during the prior season from the start of training camp to the end of the team's season
Finally, qualifying offers cannot be accepted prior to the 1st July and expire on the 15th of July. A team may provide written notice up to the 15th of July extending that acceptance date to a new, fixed calendar date expiration.
