Quote:
Originally Posted by CKPThunder
Here's where I need someone familiar with the CBA to help me out. If Bennett comes back and plays under 9 games with the Flames this year but he plays after the 40th Flames game do the Flames lose a year before Bennett can become a FA?
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It's games played by the player that matter, not games played by the team.
A minimum of 40 NHL games played counts as an accrued season under the CBA. A player becomes UFA eligible after 7 accrued seasons or the age of 27, whichever comes first. A player who plays 40 or more NHL games in a season at the age of 18 will be UFA eligible at the age of 25. That's what guys like McKenzie mean when they say GMs are more concerned about the 40 game mark than the 10 game mark.