Blues extend qualifying offers to four restricted free agents

Alex Pietrangelo isn’t the only business that the Blues need to take care of right now. They also need to tender qualifying offers to their pending restricted free agents. Tendering QOs allows the club the opportunity to retain a player’s rights through the free agency period, and to begin the arbitration process if needed.

The Blues extended qualifying offers to four pending RFAs today: Vince Dunn, Austin Poganski, Mitch Reinke, and Jake Walman.

The biggest name on that list is, of course, Dunn. Dunn’s previous contract finishes with an AAV of $888,333, and he’ll be in for a raise. Take a Stanley Cup, factor in two pretty generally solid regular seasons, and despite his playoff issues (which may have been caused by recovery from COVID-19. if he was one of the members of the team infected), there’s no way that he doesn’t work to get a decent payraise. Doug Armstrong may be limited as to how much depending on if Alex Pietrangelo re-signs or if he walks on Friday.

Right winger Poganski aside, the QOs today will shore up the future of the Blues’ defense. Walman and Reinke are both considered key defensive prospects. Poganski had a solid season on the Rampage last year, with 10 goals and 20 assists in 56 games.