The Idaho Steelheads, the ECHL franchise that serves as a development partner for the Dallas Stars, announced today that it has extended qualifying offers to three of its rostered players for the upcoming 2026‑27 season.
Who Received the Offers
Forwards Liam Malmquist and Mick Messner, along with defenseman Jake Boltmann, were each handed a qualifying offer. These contracts keep the players under the team's control while they await final agreement on terms.
Deadline and Next Steps
The offers must remain open for acceptance until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on July 22. After that deadline, the Steelheads may sign the players to any salary they deem appropriate or simply allow the offers to expire without further action.
A notable restriction applies to any player who has logged more than 190 professional regular‑season games; such athletes are ineligible to receive a qualifying offer under league rules.
The moves come as part of the broader ECHL landscape, where affiliate relationships with NHL clubs like the Dallas Stars help shape talent pipelines. The Steelheads' decisions reflect both the players' performance and the team's strategic planning for the next season.