Hunter Miska Not Expected To Receive Qualifying Offer

It wasn’t so long ago that Hunter Miska was a hot goaltending prospect after an impressive freshman season at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. After playing well in the BCHL and USHL, Miska had stepped right into the starting role with UMD and posted a 27-5-5 record en route to the National Championship game (which the Bulldogs ultimately lost). A finalist for the Mike Richter award as the nation’s top goaltender, Miska posted a .920 save percentage that season and recorded five shutouts. Several NHL teams came calling, before he eventually signed his two-year entry-level contract with the Arizona Coyotes.

Now after two disappointing years of professional hockey, Miska may be looking for a new organization. Craig Morgan of The Athletic is reporting that the team will not give Miska a qualifying offer this summer, making him an unrestricted free agent. The Coyotes already have four goaltenders under contract and will certainly be issuing a qualifying offer to Adin Hill after he showed he may be ready for a bigger role in the near future. Miska meanwhile struggled in 2018-19, positing an .895 save percentage in 25 appearances for the Tucson Roadrunners.

Still, Miska did make his NHL debut this season in relief and there is reason to believe he can still be an effective professional goaltender. The 23-year old has rushed through several different development levels over the last few years and may just be lagging behind his new surroundings a bit. As an unrestricted free agent he will be able to pick his next destination carefully, and look for the best situation for his hockey future.