The Chicago Blackhawks continued their roster teardown Monday by officially declining to give qualifying offers to centre Dylan Strome and winger Dominik Kubalik.
Both players will now become unrestricted free agents.
Strome, 25, had a slow start to last season but finished the year with 48 points and a career-high 22 goals after being promoted to the top line between Patrick Kane and the since-traded Alex DeBrincat. His qualifying offer would have been worth $3.6 million.
Kubalik, 26, had 15 goals and 32 points last season and has seen his scoring totals decline since he scored 31 goals and was a Calder Trophy finalist three seasons ago. His qualifying offer was worth $4 million.
Earlier in the day, the Blackhawks placed forwards Brett Connolly and Henrik Borgstrom on waivers for the purposes of a buyout.
Last week at the draft, the Blackhawks traded star scorer DeBrincat to the Senators for draft picks — including the seventh overall selection which they used on defenceman Kevin Korchinski — and young centre Kirby Dach to the Canadiens for draft picks — including the 13th overall pick, which became forward Frank Nazar.