Just spitballing but wonder if there is a GM with the balls to try and go around the new double retention rules.
The new rule states: "a team cannot retain on a contract that has already been retained within 75 regular season days of the first retention."
If you look at a March 6 trade deadline, 75 days before is December 21 which is during the NHL holiday roster freeze.
What if a GM traded for a 50% retained rental player just before the holiday roster freeze with the intention to flip him at the deadline so that the player could have double salary retention?
There is of course risks: player could get injured, player's trade value might go down, etc.
And the team has to pay more money than they did in the past. So they would want a significant return for the double retention (more than the mid round picks we have seen previously).
But if it is the only way a star player can get on a cup contender with the salary cap, I wonder if there are some backroom agreements to get this type of deal done.
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