Oilers plan to let a pair of RFAs hit the open market

In an interview with Sportsnet's Mark Spector, Oilers general manager Ken Holland announced that the team does not plan on making a qualifying offer to forward Andreas Athanasiou and defenceman Matt Benning. They will both become unrestricted free agents on Friday at 12 pm ET.

Holland on whether he'll make qualifying offers to Andreas Athanasiou and Matt Benning:
"I don't think so."— Mark Spector (@SportsnetSpec) October 7, 2020

Holland spoke with both Benning and Athanasiou. "Didn't work out anything, so they'll be going unqualified."— Mark Spector (@SportsnetSpec) October 7, 2020

Athanasiou, 26, was drafted in the fourth round, 110th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2012 NHL entry draft. In 303 regular season games, he's put up 156 points (84 G, 72 A), 117 penalty minutes, and is a -76. In 9 career playoff games, Athanasiou has 1 goal, 2 penalty minutes, and is a -1.

Athanasiou was traded on February 24th with Ryan Kuffner to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Sam Gagner, a 2020 second round pick, and a 2021 second round pick.

Benning, 26, was drafted in the sixth round, 175th overall by the Boston Bruins in the 2012 NHL entry draft. He then went to play for Northeastern University in the NCAA before signing with the Oilers as a free agent on August 27th 2016. In 248 regular season games, Benning has 61 points (15 G, 46 A), 126 penalty minutes, and is a +32. In 16 career playoff games, he's put up 4 assists, 18 penalty minutes, and is a +5.

NHL teams have until 5 pm ET today to make a qualifying offer to their restricted free agents in order to retain their rights, or else they become unrestricted free agents on Friday.

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