ECHL Bakersfield Condors

Condors Announce Qualifying Offers

Published on July 2, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release


BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The Bakersfield Condors announced Monday six players who have received qualifying offers for the 2007-08 season, as defined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the ECHL and the Professional Hockey Players' Association.

Qualifying offers have been tendered to forwards Todd Griffith, Josh Liebenow and Sheldon Wing, and defensemen Jay Langager, Tyler Scott and Kevin Truelson.

Griffith tied for second among ECHL rookies with 26 goals, which is the most-ever by a Condors rookie in a single season. The 22-year-old was named to the ECHL's All-Rookie Team and was selected to the 2006-07 All-Star Team.

Liebenow set career highs in all major offensive categories: goals (28), assists (27) and points (55). The 26-year-old also led the team with seven game- winning goals, tied for second most in Condors single-season history.

Scott, 26, also set career highs with 13 goals, 18 assists and 31 points, while ranking third on the team with a +13 rating. Meanwhile, Truelson, 26, notched career highs with 17 goals and 51 points and tied for the club lead with a +14 rating. His 51 points was fourth among league blue-liners and second most by a Condors defenseman in one season. His 17 goals was the second most ever by a Condors defenseman.

Langager, 26, and Wing, 24, both signed with the club late in the 2006-07 season. Langager appeared in four regular season games and led Bakersfield with a +6 rating in the postseason in seven games. Wing appeared in three playoff games, helping the Condors overtake Fresno in the National Conference Quarterfinals.

Each team was entitled to reserve the rights to a maximum of eight qualified players. Of the eight qualified players, no more than four could be veterans (260 regular season professional hockey games played as of the start of the upcoming 2007-08 season). Players on open qualifying offers cannot be traded.

The qualifying offer must remain open for acceptance until Aug. 1 at which time the qualifying offer becomes null and void and the team may sign the qualified player to any salary or may elect to take no further action. 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 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 and secure offers of employment from other ECHL teams. Restricted free agents may not be traded. When a restricted free agent receives a contract offer from a team other than the team with the player's rights and the restricted free agent wishes to accept the contract offer, the restricted free agent and the offering member must, within 24 hours, notify the ECHL, the team with the player's rights and the Professional Hockey Players' Association. The member with the player's rights shall have seven days after the date it is notified to exercise its right to match the contract offer.

If a restricted free agent is not signed to either an offer sheet or a contract by an ECHL team by August 31, the player shall be deemed an unrestricted free agent.

Note: None of the six players the Condors tendered qualifying offers to are veterans.

Celebrating its 20th Anniversary as the Premier 'AA' Hockey League in 2007-08, the ECHL began in 1988-89 with five teams in three states and has grown to be a coast-to-coast league that will have 25 teams in 17 states and British Columbia in 2007- 08. The 25 teams includes the Mississippi (Biloxi) Sea Wolves, who return after missing two seasons in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and the expansion Elmira (N.Y.) Jackals.

The Condors begin their 2007-08 10th Anniversary season Friday, Oct. 19. For more information or to reserve season tickets, mini-plans and book group outings contact the Condors office at 324-PUCK (7825).

Check out the Bakersfield Condors Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



ECHL Stories from July 2, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central