The Pittsburgh Penguins have made a qualifying offer to 26 year old winger Chris Conner, Inside Pittsburgh Sports has learned.
The qualifying offer was confirmed by Kurt Overhardt this morning, the agent for Conner. Conner, 26, will be a restricted free agent on July 1 as the Penguins have retained Conner’s negotiating rights.
Conner is scheduled to be the Penguins only restricted free agent after the team came to terms with Nick Johnson on a one year worth $500,000.
Under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, players making less than $660,000 must be offered 110 percent of last season’s salary. Conner made $500,000 in 2009-2010.
Conner appeared in 8 regular season games for Penguins scoring 2 goals and 1 assist. Conner also appeared in one playoff game
Conner spent most of the 2009-2010 season with the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League. He had 19 goals and 56 points in 59 games for Wilkes Barre last season.