[News] Proposed expansion draft rules. Expansion decision expected before 2016 draft.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by cznTiburon

IF Wideman needs to be protected (or any other pending UFA with a NMC) could a team approach a player still and ask him to waive the NMC so he wouldn't be protected? Or is it just a blanket NMC requires protection. There are a lot of questions and not enough answers yet.

It's all just speculation.

But it would be foolish to speculate any view that is contrary to Alberta Beef's view.

[Dogbert]

Pending UFAs were always eligible for selection in previous expansion drafts, so I'm sure they will be this time as well - and therefore, their NMCs have to be honoured.

I would imagine this results in the Flames buying Wideman out in June. You simply can't risk losing one of Brodie, Giordano, or Hamilton for nothing.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Dogbert

Pending UFAs were always eligible for selection in previous expansion drafts, so I'm sure they will be this time as well - and therefore, their NMCs have to be honoured.

I would imagine this results in the Flames buying Wideman out in June. You simply can't risk losing one of Brodie, Giordano, or Hamilton for nothing.

He'd have to be medically cleared. Can't buy out injured players.

[Poe969]

Why are people talking about previous expansion drafts? The last one was 16 years ago, things have changed...a lot.

Think of the trade deadline, say the sharks are out of the playoffs and Thornton is "the big fish" at the trade deadline and he's willing to waive his NMC to go to a contender. The team that trades for him shouldn't have to worry about keeping him for the expansion draft. That's silly.

Thornton was used as an example.

[Dogbert]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

He'd have to be medically cleared. Can't buy out injured players.

In that case, we might be screwed on this one.

[burnitdown]

Originally Posted by Dogbert

In that case, we might be screwed on this one.

On the bright side, the Oilers will be dealing with the exact same issue with Ference. Will he be healthy enough after his surgery to be bought out??

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by burnitdown

On the bright side, the Oilers will be dealing with the exact same issue with Ference. Will he be healthy enough after his surgery to be bought out??

Yeah, but all jokes aside, they don't have a Giordano, Brodie or Hamilton to protect.

[Enoch Root]

To the people holding to the strict line that pending UFAs will have to be protected, I am curious as to why none of you are addreeing the fact that there will be another buyout period after next year's playoffs.

A zero $$ buyout seems like a pretty obvious no brainer for the Widemans and Ferences of the world, no?

[Dogbert]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Yeah, but all jokes aside, they don't have a Giordano, Brodie or Hamilton to protect.

Yet. I'm sure Chiarelli is working on shoring up the blueline, but the expansion draft might force him to punt the plans another year.

I suppose we could always choose the "eight skaters" option, protect the four d-men, Gaudreau, Monahan, and Bennett, and leave it to chance that one of Frolik/Backlund/Shinkaruk get picked.

[burnitdown]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

To the people holding to the strict line that pending UFAs will have to be protected, I am curious as to why none of you are addreeing the fact that there will be another buyout period after next year's playoffs.

A zero $$ buyout seems like a pretty obvious no brainer for the Widemans and Ferences of the world, no?

As mentioned previously, the buyout period after next playoffs is to get out of the player's contract in 2017/18. Even if you buyout Wideman after the playoffs next year, he'll still get his full salary until July 1.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by burnitdown

As mentioned previously, the buyout period after next playoffs is to get out of the player's contract in 2017/18. Even if you buyout Wideman after the playoffs next year, he'll still get his full salary until July 1.

Players don't get paid after the end of the regular season, so that would be nothing.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by burnitdown

Buyout Period 1: 48 Hours after 15/16 Playoffs End for 2016/17 contract year
Buyout Period 2: After Arbitration hearings (if you had someone go) for 2016/17 contract year
Buyout Period 3: 48 Hours after 16/17 Playoffs End for 2017/18 contract year
Expansion Draft

You can't buy out the final month of a player's contract. That window is only to get you out of next's year's contract. If we were to buyout Wideman's contract in this summer's window, it will be next year's contract affected...he'll still get full money on this year's deal until July 1.

Okey... just to be sure I went and looked at the relevant sections of the SPC...

http://www.nhl.com/nhl/en/v3/ext/CBA...A_2013_CBA.pdf

13. The Club, in addition to other rights hereunder, at its option, by written notice delivered
to the Player in accordance with Exhibit 3, may terminate this SPC on the following conditions:
(a) The Club shall offer the Player on Unconditional Waivers, either before or
promptly after the notice of intention to exercise the Ordinary Course Buy-Out option (herein
called "notice of termination") is given.
318
EXHIBIT 1
(b) Termination pursuant to this Paragraph shall be effective upon receipt by the
Player of the notice of termination and the Player clearing Unconditional Waivers pursuant to
Paragraph 13(a) above.
(c) The notice of termination shall be effective if given in the form attached as CBA
Exhibit 20, with a copy to the NHLPA and Central Registry as follows:
(i) beginning the later of June 15 or forty-eight (48) hours after the
conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals and ending at 5:00 p.m. New York time on June 30; and
(ii) For Clubs who have Club or Player elected Salary Arbitration filings
pursuant to Article 12, within the forty-eight (48) hour period beginning on the third day
following the later of: (i) the Club's receipt of its last salary arbitration award; or (ii) settlement
of its last case (provided such award was received or such settlement occurred prior to 7:00 p.m.
New York time; awards or settlements that occurred or were received at or after 7:00 p.m. New
York time will be deemed to have occurred or received the following business day for purposes
of this provision).
(d) If the Club elects to terminate this SPC pursuant to this Paragraph 13, it shall be
obligated to pay to the Player, in equal semi-monthly installments, to be paid in accordance with
the payroll payment schedule applicable to the Club's Active Roster, over twice the remaining
term of the SPC (the "Buy-Out Period"):
(i) if the Player is under 26 years of age at the time the termination is
effective, an amount equal to 1/3 of, or
(ii) if the Player is 26 years of age or older at the time the termination is
effective, an amount equal to 2/3 of the total fixed amount of the Player's Paragraph 1 NHL
Salary, for the unexpired fixed-term of this SPC, reduced by any advance payment of Paragraph
1 Salary received by the Player prior to the date the termination is effective.
(e) Upon termination, the Player shall immediately be an Unrestricted Free Agent and
shall no longer be obligated to perform under this SPC.
(f) Waiver claim of Player by another Club shall pre-empt and relinquish Club's BuyOut
obligation, due to failure to clear Waivers.
(g) Clubs shall file their Buy-Out agreements, the form of which is attached hereto as
Exhibit 21, with Central Registry and the NHLPA within 24 hours of such agreements becoming
effective.

I don't see anything that would prevent buyout period 3.

[Enoch Root]

The purpose of an expansion draft is to facilitate the expansion team acquiring players for next season. Yes, pending UFAs are under contract for another month or so, but not for next season which is what the draft is about.

I know that past drafts included them, but with the much tighter restrictions and fewer spots this time, I would imagine that they will find a way to correct for this situation.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

To the people holding to the strict line that pending UFAs will have to be protected, I am curious as to why none of you are addreeing the fact that there will be another buyout period after next year's playoffs.

... isn't that exactly what I'm doing?

[PeteMoss]

One thing to keep in mind - the best outcome for the Flames would be that either Wideman waives the NMC or these expiring NMCs are exempt from protection. His salary would be a benefit to getting to the 25% threshold.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Dogbert

Yet. I'm sure Chiarelli is working on shoring up the blueline, but the expansion draft might force him to punt the plans another year.

I suppose we could always choose the "eight skaters" option, protect the four d-men, Gaudreau, Monahan, and Bennett, and leave it to chance that one of Frolik/Backlund/Shinkaruk get picked.

Sekera has to be protected, Klefbom would be protected, Nurse won't qualify for the draft apparently.

Should be space for another 1 or 2 D men to be protected.

[sureLoss]

The 25% might be gone or changed?

Chris Nichols ‏@NicholsOnHockey
Friedman/expansion draft: "But I think some things are different. I'm not sure if that 25 percent is still one of them." 5/5

[Par]

Do we know if Gillies is expemt from the expansion? This is the big thing, Wideman is easy, if you have to protect, try to trade him, if can't buy him out.

[Roof-Daddy]

Gillies would be exempt. 2nd year pro next season.

[Red Menace]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

The 25% might be gone or changed?

Chris Nichols ‏@NicholsOnHockey
Friedman/expansion draft: "But I think some things are different. I'm not sure if that 25 percent is still one of them." 5/5

I hope that is gone, could be very difficult for some teams, including the Flames