The Chicago Blackhawks will not be tendering qualifying offers to two of their pending RFAs, Dylan Strome and Dominik Kubalik. It's been practically common knowledge for awhile now that they didn't plan to issue a qualifying offer to either player.
Strome is eligible for a qualifying offer worth $3.6MM, and it looks like the rebuilding Blackhawks aren't interested in retaining Strome at that number. While Strome hasn't lived up to the hype he once held as the third overall pick at the 2015 draft, it would be misleading to say he's been anything other than a reasonably productive NHL player since arriving in Chicago. He finished last season with 22 goals and 48 points in 69 games. He could be intriguing for teams looking for a cheaper option. He's still relatively young at 25, and has had a few decent seasons of production.
Kubalik has regressed since his extremely impressive rookie season and endured a difficult 2021-22 campaign. He had 15 goals and 32 points this past season, a decline from the 25-goal, 56-point pace he played at last season, and the 30-goal, 46-point showing he produced as a rookie. Kubalik is due a $4MM qualifying offer, and it seems as though GM Kyle Davidson does not believe extending him that offer to retain his rights is in the best interest of the rebuilding Blackhawks. Like Strome, Kubalik is an interesting UFA option for many teams. He's just two seasons removed from when he made the NHL's All-Rookie team and was a Calder Trophy Finalist, and only one season removed from a healthy 25-goal, 50+ point offensive pace. Teams are always looking for big wingers who can score, and that's exactly what Kubalik is.
