Maple Leafs give qualifying offers to Travis Dermott and Ilya Mikheyev

The Maple Leafs have extended qualifying offers to a couple of key restricted free agents — defenceman Travis Dermott and forward Ilya Mikheyev — but they have declined to do so for some others.

Forwards Frederik Gauthier, Jeremy Bracco and Evan Rodrigues are slated to become unrestricted free agents on Friday at noon after the Leafs declined to tender them an offer to retain their bargaining rights.

Gauthier is a former first-round pick whose skating has long been suspect but has forged a career as a fourth-line centre and penalty killer. Bracco is a gifted playmaker, again with questionable skating, who hit rough times with the Marlies last season. Rodrigues is one of the players sent the Leafs’ way in the deal that sent Kasperi Kapanen to Pittsburgh.

The Leafs hope to re-sign both Dermott and Mikheyev for next season. By offering them deals on Wednesday, the Leafs ensured they would get some compensation if they were to sign with other teams as restricted free agents.