Isles Qualify 8 & Release 3

According to Newsday, the Islanders sent qualifying offers to 8 of their restricted free agents including Calvin de Haan and Casey Cizikas.  If you recall a couple days ago reports came out that Anders Lee had signed his qualifying offer.

While they retained the rights to 8 players they didn't qualify three of their restricted free agents.  Defenseman Marc Cantin, as well as forwards Joe Diamond and Matt Mangene didn't receive qualifying offers making them unrestricted free agents.  Cantin was acquired by the Islanders a couple years ago in the Brian Rolston trade with the Bruins.  Meanwhile, Mangene was acquired at the trade deadline a couple months ago in the Andrew MacDonald trade with the Flyers.

#Isles gave QOs to de Haan, Donovan, Poulin, Nilsson, Lee, Cizikas. Not sure about AHLers Ness, Cantin, Diamond.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) June 30, 2014

#Isles also gave QOs to Gallant and Ness. Not qualified: Diamond, Cantin, Mangene.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) June 30, 2014