The Jacksonville Icemen are keeping things moving this offseason, locking in qualifying offers for five players from their 2024–25 roster. These offers don’t guarantee a return, but they do give the Icemen exclusive ECHL rights.
Qualifying offers were extended to:
- Goaltenders: Matt Vernon, Justen Close
- Defenseman: Ivan Chukarov
- Forwards: Ryan Leibold, Davis Koch
So, What Is a Qualifying Offer?
Think of it like a “hold my spot” in ECHL roster building.
A qualifying offer doesn’t lock a player into a deal, but it does mean the team wants to keep them in the picture. It’s a key offseason step that lets a team hang onto a player’s ECHL negotiating rights—just in case they’re not quite done in your team’s sweater.
Here’s how it works:
- Each team can send offers to up to eight players from their 2024-25 season-ending roster
- Of those eight players, only four can be veterans (guys with 260+ pro games under their belt) at the start of the 2025-26 season
- Already-signed players don’t need a qualifying offer
- Players on open offers can’t be traded
- And if a player isn’t signed by August 8? They become an unrestricted free agent, free to sign anywhere in the league
It’s part strategy, part insurance—and all about keeping options open.
The Breakdown
Justen Close – Goaltender
Photo: Andrew Fielder | Inside the Rink
In his first full pro season, Close looked sharp and reliable. He played 30 games for Jacksonville, posting a 2.38 GAA, .922 save percentage, and 3 shutouts. In two playoff games, he maintained a stellar .926 SV%.
A standout at the University of Minnesota, Close proved he belongs at the pro level—and the Icemen want to keep that option open.
Ryan Leibold – Forward
Photo: Sarah Pietrowski | Inside the Rink
Leibold split last season between Reading and South Carolina, tallying 20 points in 62 regular-season games with the Royals and two more assists in five games with the Stingrays. Gritty, fast, and disruptive on the forecheck, he’s the type of forward every team wants to have ready.
Matt Vernon – Goaltender (Signed Overseas)
Vernon was a standout in the net last season, going 24-8-6 with a 2.59 GAA and .916 SV% in 39 games. He followed that with a .938 SV% in the playoffs.
He’s now signed with HC Innsbruck in Austria’s ICEHL for the 2025–26 season. But by issuing a qualifying offer, the Icemen retain his ECHL rights if he returns to North America.
Ivan Chukarov – Defenseman (Signed Overseas)
Chukarov had another solid year on the blue line, finishing with 33 points in 67 games and a +16 rating. He’s signed with the Coventry Blaze in the UK’s EIHL for 2025–26. Still, the Icemen hold his ECHL rights moving forward.
Davis Koch – Forward (Signed Overseas)
Koch is no stranger to international ice—and he’s heading back again. After leading Jacksonville’s forward group with 43 points in 70 games last season, Koch has signed with EC Bad Nauheim in Germany’s DEL2.
His overseas résumé already includes time in the DEL and DEL2, plus a big playoff run in Germany3. With a qualifying offer in place, the Icemen keep their ECHL rights if he returns.
What’s Next?
With Vernon, Chukarov, and Koch all signed overseas, the focus now shifts to Justen Close and Ryan Leibold—both still unsigned but very much in the team’s plans. These qualifying offers keep the door open and the roster options flexible.
And the offseason isn’t slowing down. Just yesterday, the Icemen announced the return of forward Garrett Van Wyhe for the 2025–26 season, adding more experience and versatility to the mix.
Moves are happening behind the scenes, and the 2025–26 Icemen are quietly starting to take shape.
SOURCE:
Jacksonville Icemen. (2025, July 7). Icemen extend qualifying offers to five players.
Discover more from Inside The Rink
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
