ESTERO, FL – The Florida Everblades announced today their season ending roster for the 2012-13 season. The Everblades season ending roster is comprised of 11 forwards, seven defensemen, and two goaltenders. 

Season-Ending Rosters may include up to 20 players. Season-Ending Rosters cannot include any players who did not sign an ECHL contract in 2012-13.

Each team is entitled to reserve rights to a maximum of eight players from the list of 20 by extending a qualifying offer no later than June 30. Of the eight qualified players, no more than four can be veterans (260 regular season professional hockey games played as of the start of the 2013-14 season). Players on open qualifying offers cannot be traded. Teams are not required to extend a qualifying offer to players who sign a contract prior to June 30.

The qualifying offer must remain open for acceptance until Aug. 1 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 will retain the rights to that veteran until Aug. 1. After Aug. 1, if the veteran player is not signed to a contract by the team, the veteran 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 Aug. 31, the player shall be deemed an unrestricted free agent.

The following is a complete list of players protected by the Everblades. 

Forwards (11)Mike MerrifieldShawn O’DonnellDaniel KogerAdam BraceBrandon MacLeanTrevor BruessLeigh SaltersBrayden IrwinPatrick KnowltonMathieu RoyMatthew Pistilli

Defensemen (7)Bobby RaymondMike CornellTyson GimblettMike RatchukMaury EdwardsOlivier Dame-MalkaMike Brennan

Goaltenders (2)Jesse DeckertCody Reichard

2013-14 Season Ticket Package Information

Ticket packages for the 2013-14 season are currently on sale!  Full season packages start begin at $380, while 10 and 20 game packages start as low as $160.    Sign-up for a new season ticket package today, and receive a $20 gift card per seat to Outback Steakhouse!

For more information call 239-948-7825, or stop by the Everblades main office located at Germain Arena.  Office hours are Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Florida Everblades are the proud ECHL affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning & Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League.

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