The Idaho Steelheads unveiled their season‑ending roster on Tuesday, confirming that 20 skaters will be carried forward into the next campaign.
The club protected a balanced mix of talent, listing 14 forwards, five defensemen and a single goaltender among those who will retain their rights. Among the protected forwards are veterans such as Jordan Steinmetz and Morgan Winters, while emerging defenseman Nicholas Canade earned a spot on the list, alongside players such as Grant Silianoff, Ty Pelton‑Byce and Liam Malmquist.
The protected defensemen include Nick Portz, Jack Adams and Mason Nevers, providing depth on the blue line, while the goaltender retained his rights for the upcoming season.
Qualifying Offer Mechanics
Under the ECHL’s qualifying‑offer framework, teams may reserve the rights to a maximum of eight players by extending a qualifying offer before the July 22 deadline. The offer must remain open for acceptance until 11:59 p.m. ET on that date, and once accepted it binds the player to the team for a single upcoming season.
Players who have logged more than 190 professional regular‑season games are barred from receiving a qualifying offer, a threshold that influences contract decisions for many of the Steelheads’ veterans. Those on open qualifying offers are also prohibited from being traded without the team’s consent.
The club may explore free‑agent options to fill remaining spots, a strategy that could bring new faces into the fold while preserving the core protected group.