ECHL: 2025-26 Qualifying Offers | Savannah Ghost Pirates

The Savannah Ghost Pirates have extended qualifying offers to seven players ahead of the July 7 deadline: Ross Armour, Logan Drevitch, Pat Guay, Chris Lipe, Devon Paliani, Will Riedell, and Reece Vitelli. The list includes returning talent, veterans, and prospects with AHL affiliations—all key pieces from last season’s lineup.

What a Qualifying Offer Means

When a team issues a qualifying offer (QO), they retain that player’s ECHL rights for one playing season—unless the player is a veteran (260+ pro games) or a goaltender with 180+ pro games. In that case, the team holds rights until July 22.

After that date:

• If unsigned, veterans and goaltenders become restricted free agents (RFAs).
• RFAs can accept offers from other ECHL teams, but the original team has seven days to match.
• Players on open qualifying offers cannot be traded.
• If a player is under contract with an AHL team or has signed overseas, the ECHL rights remain with the qualifying team should they return.

Who’s Returning, Who’s Overseas?

Ross Armour – Forward (Nottingham Panthers – EIHL)

Ross Armour may be heading overseas for the 2025–26 season, but Savannah wisely held onto his ECHL rights. The skilled two-way forward registered 32 points (16G, 16A) in 36 games last season before departing mid-year for a brief stint with EC Bad Nauheim (DEL2). Armour’s breakout came in 2023–24, when he posted 35 points in 44 games for Savannah. A former captain at Bemidji State University, Armour brings a blend of vision, leadership, and sneaky offensive upside, especially down the middle. If he returns to North America, he’d slot easily into a top-six role.

Logan Drevitch – Forward

A fan favorite and emotional engine for Savannah, Drevitch has been a model of consistency. Over the last two seasons, he’s posted back-to-back 52-point campaigns, including a career-high 40 assists in 2024–25. Known for his tenacity, speed, and penalty-killing prowess, Drevitch has skated in over 200 ECHL games—all with the Ghost Pirates. He wears the “C” for good reason and remains a critical piece of Savannah’s leadership core.

Pat Guay – Forward

Guay’s scoring touch and playmaking instincts make him one of the more dangerous forwards on this list. He split last season between Maine (ECHL) and Savannah, combining for 14 goals and 28 assists across 67 games. In 2022–23, he erupted for 52 points in 49 games with the Ghost Pirates, adding another 17 in a split AHL stint with Henderson. A former QMJHL scoring champion, Guay’s ceiling is high—and if he returns to Savannah in full form, he’ll be a cornerstone at center.

Chris Lipe – Defenseman

A steady and dependable right-shot defenseman, Lipe quietly brings structure to the blue line. The Michigan Tech product played the past two seasons in Iowa, suiting up for 118 games and scoring eight points in 52 games last year. His low-penalty, low-risk style makes him ideal for key defensive minutes and penalty-kill duties. Savannah’s retention of his rights suggests they value his maturity and shutdown ability as part of a deeper defensive group.

Devon Paliani – Forward

Paliani was a force last season, posting career-best numbers with 32 goals and 27 assists in 72 games for Savannah. His game blends grit and finish, and he frequently makes his impact felt around the net. After bouncing between teams earlier in his ECHL career (Reading, Maine, Worcester, Toledo), Paliani found a real home in Savannah. His physical play, motor, and scoring touch give the Ghost Pirates a true power-forward presence, especially during tight-checking games.

Will Riedell – Defenseman (Fischtown Pinguins – DEL)

A leadership voice in the locker room, Riedell served as an alternate captain last season while tallying 28 points in 46 games. He also gained valuable experience abroad with EHC München, playing 11 games (including playoffs) in the German DEL. With past AHL stints in Calgary, San Jose, and Lehigh Valley, Riedell has logged minutes in nearly every major North American league. A former captain at Ohio State, his rights remain with Savannah, offering the team a high-IQ defenseman if he returns from Europe.

Reece Vitelli – Forward (Manitoba Moose – AHL Contracted)

Vitelli may be under AHL contract with the Manitoba Moose, but Savannah is smart to retain his ECHL rights. He recorded 52 points in 57 games for the Ghost Pirates last season, adding three more in a 15-game AHL loan. Known for his playmaking and vision, Vitelli previously skated with the Atlanta Gladiators and Tucson Roadrunners, building a strong reputation as a dual-zone threat. If Manitoba sends him down again, Savannah holds a valuable top-line weapon ready to slot in.

Opening Night at Enmarket Arena

The Savannah Ghost Pirates open their 2025–26 campaign at home against the Norfolk Admirals on Friday, October 17. Puck drops at 7:00 PM EDT at Enmarket Arena.

SOURCE: Ghost Pirates. (2025, July 8). Ghost Pirates extend qualifying offers to seven players.