The Canes on Monday extended qualifying contract offers to seven restricted free agents: forwards Drayson Bowman, Zach Boychuk, Jerome Samson, Evgenii Dadonov, Jeremy Welsh and Chris Terry; and goalie Mike Murphy.
Murphy has left the organization to play in Russia's KHL's next season, but the Canes retain his rights.
Three players did not receive qualifiers on Monday and will become unrestricted free agents July 1 -- forwards Cedric McNicholl and Matt Pistilli, and defenseman Kyle Lawson. Forward Chris Durno and defenseman Mathieu Roy already were set to become UFAs on July 1.
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at