So if a player takes the team to arbitration, the team can walk away if they don't like the ruling? But if a team elects arbitration the player doesn't have the ability to walk away if they aren't happy? That doesn't sound right, although, I doubt Colorado would elect arbitration if O'Rielly could just say no, and become UFA, so that must be the case.
Colorado is basically giving all the other NHL teams a 5 day window to put in an offer sheet. If I understand correctly, once there is a ruling, O'Rielly can agree to a 1 year, or 2 year deal, which would shorten his term before becoming UFA, I'd suspect this ordeal would put a strain on the relationship and he'd elect a 1 year.
I just don't get why Colorado would do this, either way, they will lose O'Rielly early, so it must just be a way to draw offer sheets to collect draft picks.
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