ESPN

According to a published report on a Canadian Web site, the NHL and the NHLPA are investigating whether qualifying offers to some Blackhawks' free agents, including Kris Versteeg and Cam Barker, were filed correctly.

According to TSN.com, if it is determined that the offers were filed incorrectly, there is a possibility the offers would be ruled invalid and the players would be deemed unrestricted free agents.

One source told the Web site that the players involved did not receive necessary notification of the offers. NHL officials are in the process of trying to determine whether the situation was corrected in time.

Blackhawks general manager Dale Tallon told TSN the offers were mailed to the players on June 29, which is in time, but said that because of the July 1 holiday in Canada, some of the players didn't receive them in time.

Other sources told TSN that qualifying offers are not supposed to be mailed.

Overnight delivery and direct fax to the player's agent is preferred; certified or registered mail is acceptable only if no other means are available.

Sources told TSN that some of the qualifying offers were not faxed to the agents.

Tallon told the Web site that faxed copies of the offers were sent to the league, and did not anticipate any significant fallout.