Golden Knights send qualifying offers to 5 restricted free agents

The Vegas Golden Knights extended qualifying offers to their five restricted free agents prior to the 2 p.m. deadline Monday.

Defenseman Lukas Cormier and forwards Joe Fleming, Jakub Brabenec and Jakub Demek will have their signing rights maintained by the team when free agency opens Wednesday.

Goaltender Akira Schmid was the fifth, but he was traded to the Florida Panthers for a 2028 third-round draft pick Monday.

Rival teams can present offer sheets to the Knights’ four skaters from the Henderson Silver Knights, but they will more than likely re-sign with the team during the summer.

Cormier led all Henderson defensemen with 47 points in 49 games last season. The 2020 third-round pick continues to show promise, but has fallen victim to the numbers game on the Knights’ blue line.

Brabenec, a fourth-round pick in 2021, signed a two-year deal with HC Kometa Brno of Extraliga in Czechia on June 3. Even while overseas, the Knights hang on to his signing rights. He had 31 points in 62 games.

Demek, also a fourth-round pick in 2021, appeared in four games last season following an injury-riddled year in Henderson.

Fleming, a defenseman turned forward, had 14 points and a team-high 158 penalty minutes.