The Swarm Avoid Restricted Free Agency with Downing and Hass

July 29, 2014

The Minnesota Swarm sent qualifying offers to Greg Downing and Tyler Hass. By sending the qualifying offers prior to the July 31st deadline, the Swarm avoid both players from becoming restricted free agents. From my understanding, the qualitfying offers would be more than or equal to each of the players' salaries from last year. Sending qualifying offers shows the Swarm plan to at the moment to bring both players back for 2015. I could see both signing one-year contracts which would make them eligible for unrestricted free agency leading up to 2016.

The Swarm have not yet sent qualifying offers to Corbyn Tao or Mitch Belisle. If they do not do so by the July 31st deadline, those players would become restricted free agents. They can then be signed by other teams but the Swarm can keep them by matching either offer within 72 hours of the offer. Tao only played one game last season as he spent the season on the practice roster while Belisle took the season off for his wedding, work and to prepare for the 2014 World Field Lacrosse Championships. Tao still lives in the Twin Cities so I can see him coming back but Belisle, who knows. The Swarm still have two days to offer qualifying offers to prevent restrictive free agency.

Jeff Gilbert is eligible for unrestricted free agency if not signed or made a franchise player by the July 31st deadline. The Swarm have never franchised a player in team history, so expect Gilbert to become an UFA. Gilbert will definitely garner interest by teams like Toronto. Even though he is a well-to-to realtor in Barrie, Ontario, my hunch is that Gilbert will re-sign with the team as he has established himself as a team leader and would like to see the team rebound from last season's difficulties.

If the Swarm lose a player to restricted or unrestricted free agency, the Swarm will receive a draft pick to be determined by the NLL.