The Sharks will not be giving qualifying offers to RFAs Filip Zadina and Jack Studnicka, according to a source from San Jose Hockey Now. The deadline for qualifying offers is Sunday, so it will be confirmed by then who the Sharks have chosen not to qualify. If Zadina and Studnicka do not receive qualifying offers, they will become unrestricted free agents on July 1.
Sharks general manager Mike Grier had mentioned on Monday that Zadina was being considered for a return, but did not confirm it. The team recently acquired forwards Barclay Goodrow, Ty Dellandrea, Carl Grundstrom, and Egor Afanasyev, which may have influenced their decision regarding Zadina and Studnicka.
Goodrow, Dellandrea, and Grundstrom are described as embodying a “hard to play against” style, which aligns with Grier’s vision of building around young players like Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith. With limited playing time available, it seems that the Sharks have chosen to prioritize these new acquisitions over Zadina and Studnicka.