In Bouwmeester's case, where you know the player isn't coming back, I believe teams give agents the okay to talk to other teams that the player is interested in. Once Bouwmeester says, yeah I'd be interested in signing with Calgary and or teams x, y, z; Calgary and or the other teams make an offer. Calgary gave a third and the rights to Leopold and probably this would also get the rights to Richards. Just my ramblings which could be all wrong.
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