Breaking News: Kapanen Getting Qualifying Offer; Heinen Will Not

CRANBERRY — Kasperi Kapanen is going to get a qualifying offer from the Pittsburgh Penguins, but Danton Heinen will not, PHN has learned.

That means the Penguins will retain the rights to compensation if Kapanen, who is a restricted free agent, signs with another team and the Penguins decline to match that club’s offer.

Heinen had been restricted, but will now be unrestricted and free to sign with another club, with the Penguins receiving no compensation.

The Pittsburgh Penguins still are allowed to try to re-sign Heinen, although it was not immediately clear whether they plan to do so.

Kapanen had to receive a qualifying offer of $840,000 by the deadline today, while Danton Heinen was in line for one worth $1.1 million.

Both players had arbitration rights; consequently, if Kapanen takes the team to arbitration and is awarded a contract worth more than $4,538,958 — which almost certainly will not happen — the Penguins can walk away from the award and allow Kapanen to become unrestricted.

Kasperi Kapanen had a seriously disappointing season in 2021-22, recording just 11 goals and 21 assists in 79 games. He had been projected to be a reliable goal-scorer in a top-six role.

Heinen was signed as a free agent last summer after Anaheim declined to give him a qualifying offer and received positive reviews for his work, as he had 18 goals and 21 assists in 76 games.

There is no word yet on which of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ other restricted free agents, none of whom currently are listed on the major-league roster, will be qualified.

Defenseman P.O Joseph, who is one of them, presumably will be.