[getbak]

This used to be a regular occurrence up until relatively recently. The only difference being that the team's current GM could ask for whatever compensation he felt was fair.

Now, they can't ask for any compensation, but they can also refuse to grant the other team permission to talk to the person if he's still under contract. That seems to be the problem. A lot of GMs won't grant the permission, or they won't grant it until after the Draft is over. With the compensation being available, the idea is that GMs will be more likely to allow other teams to talk to their people.

If Maloney knew he could get the Flames' second round pick (likely to be very early in the round), he might have given Burke permission to talk to/hire Treliving in January last year.

It's unlikely that a team will choose to not hire the person they like just because they'll have to pay compensation. The right coach or GM is worth more than a third round pick.