1. Home
  2. News
  3. Solar Bears Announce Qualifying Offers For 2024-25 Season

Solar Bears Announce Qualifying Offers For 2024-25 Season

Monday, July 8th
Solar Bears Announce Qualifying Offers For 2024-25 Season

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Solar Bears, ECHL affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning, announced today the team has extended qualifying offers to the following players for the 2024-25 season. 

FORWARDS: Kelly Bent, Alex Frye, Jesse Jacques

DEFENSEMEN: Jimmy Mazza

Players who had already signed a contract by July 7 did not need to receive a qualifying offer. 

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 2024-25 season). Players on open qualifying offers cannot be traded. 

The qualifying offer must remain open for acceptance until July 22 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, or to a goaltender who has played more than 180 regular-season games, will retain the rights to that player until July 22. After July 22, if the veteran player or goaltender is not signed to a contract by the team, the player 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 8, the player shall be deemed an unrestricted free agent.

Upcoming Home Games

Full Schedule
Savannah Ghost Pirates
Orlando Solar Bears
Saturday, October 26th
Savannah Ghost Pirates @ Orlando Solar Bears
Puck Drops:
7:00 PM EDT
Kia Center
Savannah Ghost Pirates
SAV Savannah Ghost Pirates
at
Orlando Solar Bears
ORL Orlando Solar Bears
Kia Center
Jacksonville Icemen
Orlando Solar Bears
Saturday, November 2nd
Jacksonville Icemen @ Orlando Solar Bears
Puck Drops:
7:00 PM EDT
Kia Center
Jacksonville Icemen
JAX Jacksonville Icemen
at
Orlando Solar Bears
ORL Orlando Solar Bears
Kia Center
Savannah Ghost Pirates
Orlando Solar Bears
Monday, November 4th
Savannah Ghost Pirates @ Orlando Solar Bears
Puck Drops:
7:00 PM EST
Kia Center
Savannah Ghost Pirates
SAV Savannah Ghost Pirates
at
Orlando Solar Bears
ORL Orlando Solar Bears
Kia Center

Latest News

More News
Solar Bears Acquire Jack Adams From Bloomington
Solar Bears Acquire Jack Adams From Bloomington
Solar Bears Announce Season-Opening Roster
Solar Bears Announce Season-Opening Roster
Solar Bears Agree To Terms With Veteran Forward Darik Angeli
Solar Bears Agree To Terms With Veteran Forward Darik Angeli

Get Hockey Updates

Sign up for our email newsletter to be the first to know about news and upcoming games!