Oilers Qualify 10

TSN is reporting that goaltender Jeff Deslauriers and center Sam Gagner are two of 10 players to receive qualifying offers Monday from the Edmonton Oilers. The others are forwards Gilbert Brule, Andrew Cogliano, Colin Fraser, J.F. Jacques, Ryan O'Marra and Liam Reddox along with defenseman Theo Peckham and netminder Devan Dubnyk.

Of note, the Oilers are letting Marc Pouliot and Ryan Potulny head to free agency July 1st.

This isn't to say that the Oilers won't sign one or both of these players, it's just that they'll consider doing so after July 1st and dependant on what other teams do or do not offer.

Pouliot has struggled to become the prospect the Oilers had hoped he'd be. A big time draft selection and an incredible set of stats coming off playing with Sidney Crosby in junior, Pouliot hasn't found a stable home anywhere in the Oilers lineup and has been injury riddled.

Ryan Potulny had a great rookie year after coming over from the Flyers, but he's got a habit of performing well on bad teams. When part of a competitive lineup, his production tends to vanish and the Oilers must feel they'll be more competitive in terms of similar players with the prospects coming to this years camp.

There is word that the Minnesota Wild have interest in Potulny. Oilers fans may see him playing against Edmonton an awful lot next season.

It has also been rumoured that Gilbert Brule will head to arbitration thus the qualifying offer is merely a stepping stone to getting a contract done. He'll be somewhere in the neighbourhood of $2 million for two years if the Oilers keep him.