Quote:
Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy
It's a topic of great debate these days with no concrete answer yet.
I will say this, if the league makes teams use up a protection slot on players with NMC's who will be UFA a week or two later, it will be one of the stupidest things I've ever seen.....so I wouldn't put it past them.
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I'm pretty sure the intent is to make teams who have players under contract for the 2017-18 season with NMCs to have to protect them. I don't think the league can force a team to protect a player that is technically no longer under contract. Someone may be able to confirm this, but I read someplace that a player is under contract until his team plays its last game in the season/playoffs. The team retains the rights to the player, but the player is without a contract or the protections of that contract.
I would think this is supported by the fact that Gaudreau and Monahan both have refused to play in the Worlds because they don't have a contract and the included insurance that comes with the contract. So in Wideman's situation he would no longer be under contract and the Flames would not be required to protect him. Maybe Transplant99 can confirm or deny?