No qualifying offers were extended to Michael Latta, Ryan Stanton and Caleb Herbert. The players will become Unrestricted Free Agents on July 1.
The news broke just before the 5:00 PM deadline that the Capitals would not be extending qualifying offers to Restricted Free Agents (RFA’s) Michael Latta, Caleb Herbert and Ryan Stanton.
#Caps do not qualify C Michael Latta, D Ryan Stanton and C Caleb Herbert. They will become unrestricted free agents.
— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) June 27, 2016
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The Capitals were required to make a minimum qualifying offer of $632,500 to Latta in order to maintain his rights. The Capitals are currently $10,888,207 under the salary cap, as per General Fanager. Michael Latta took to Twitter Monday evening to thank Washington:
Thank you Washington, love the city, love the fans. Looking forward to earning an opportunity somewhere else.
— Michael Latta (@Latta17) June 27, 2016
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Roommate Tom Wilson also took to Twitter:
Going to be sad not having you around next year brother. It was an amazing few years and you’ll always be a great friend @Latta17
— Tom Wilson (@tom_wilso) June 27, 2016
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The news likely means there will be no return to the Capitals for the three players. The Capitals did extend qualifying offers to Marcus Johansson, Tom Wilson and Dmitry Orlov.
#Caps issue QOs to C/LW Marcus Johansson, D Dmitry Orlov, and RW Tom Wilson. Johansson and Orlov have arbitration rights; Wilson does not.
— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) June 27, 2016
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Michael Latta was the last remaining piece to the Filip Forsburg trade:
Forsberg gets a contract extension and Latta doesn’t get a qualifying offer…..we see how that trade went 😅
— autumn (@Otto_min) June 27, 2016
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Some of the reaction from Caps Nation:
i miss you so much already, good luck wherever you end up playing, they will be so lucky to have you❤️ pic.twitter.com/0xCzaLzWno
— alyssa ∞ (@alyssadrew97) June 27, 2016
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Truly breaks my heart to see one of the roomies go💔 Wishing you luck for the future 💕 @Latta17 pic.twitter.com/rpeVuv0gM8
— Jenna Boyer (@jboyer16) June 27, 2016
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you’re a beautiful person & I’ll miss u sm ❤️❤️❤️☹️ pic.twitter.com/obVVakvyTY
— Bayleigh Henley (@henleybayy) June 27, 2016
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Michael Latta not qualified offer? Damn. #Caps pic.twitter.com/67ilkwjkdh
— Charles Schelle (@ImYourChuck) June 27, 2016
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you’re a beautiful person & I’ll miss u sm ❤️❤️❤️☹️ pic.twitter.com/obVVakvyTY
— Bayleigh Henley (@henleybayy) June 27, 2016
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Well that’s a whole Latta disappointment
— jack (@MeSoChorney) June 27, 2016
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Latta was not a real surprise. Stanton was a bit surprising to me.
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