May have found an interesting quirk with the CBA and whether Poirier's ELC will slide next year or not.
I believe if I am reading the CBA correctly, Poirier's ELC will not slide next year, regardless of actual NHL games played, if he doesn't sign an ELC before December 31st, 2013.
This is what the CBA says:
Quote:
In the event that an 18 year old or 19 year old Player signs an SPC with a Club but does not play at least ten (10) NHL Games in the first season
under that SPC, the term of his SPC and his number of years in the Entry
Level System shall be extended for a period of one (1) year, except that
this automatic extension will not apply to a Player who is 19 according to
Section 9.2 by virtue of turning 20 between September 16 and December
31 in the year in which he first signs an SPC. Unless a Player and Club
expressly agree to the contrary, in the event a Player's SPC is extended an
additional year in accordance with this subsection, all terms of the SPC,
with the exception of Signing Bonuses, but including Paragraph 1 Salary,
games played bonuses and Exhibit 5 bonuses, shall be extended; provided,
however, that the Player's Paragraph 1 Salary shall be extended in all
circumstances.
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This is what Section 9.2 says
Quote:
9.2 Age of Players.
As used in this Article, "age," including "First SPC Signing Age," means
a Player's age on September 15 of the calendar year in which he signs an SPC, regardless of his actual age on the date he signs such SPC.
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So the problem is this statement: "except that this automatic extension will not apply to a Player who is 19 according to Section 9.2 by virtue of turning 20 between September 16 and December 31 in the year in which he first signs an SPC."
Poirier will turn 19 on December 14, 2013. So this statement is very important.
If he signs before December 31, 2013, then he would not be turning 20 between September 16 and December 31 in the year in which he first signs a contract and then the ELC would slide, if he plays less than 10 NHL games.
However, if he signs after December 31, 2013 he would be turning 20 in the year which he first signs the contract and his contract would not slide even if the Flames sent him back to junior with 0 NHL games played.