Kukla's Korner Hockey
What Lies Ahead
by Paul on 07/22/05 at 12:21 AM ET
Comments (0)
NHL players often say the season is a marathon, not a sprint. But when the NHL reopens for business Saturday, it will be a mad dash. The lengthy talks have compacted the usual signing periods. What lies ahead, according to a union memo to agents that was obtained by USA TODAY: • 2003 draft picks: They must sign by July 28, or they'll re-enter the draft. Philadelphia will be eager to get Jeff Carter and Michael Richards under contract. • Buyouts: Teams have until 5 p.m. ET on July 29 to buy out contracts at two-thirds value without it counting against the cap. • Free agency: It opens Aug. 1, but teams can negotiate with their free agents beforehand. The age for unrestricted free agency remains 31, as of June 30, but it drops next year. More than 400 players can become free agents. • Arbitration: Teams now can take players to arbitration. Previously, only players filed. The filing deadlines are Aug. 11 (players) and Aug. 12 (teams), and cases will be heard from Aug. 22-Sept. 1. Arbitration awards are based on comparisons to other players, and the salaries of those comparables have been rolled back 24%. Plus, any award must be figured into the $39 million team salary cap. • Restricted free agents: They must sign by Dec. 1 or sit out the season. The NHL first sought to make the deadline 14 days after the start of training camp. But few players will want to stay out long, especially after they lost a year's pay.
Filed in: | KK Hockey | Permalink
Comments
Be the first to comment.
Add a Comment
Please limit embedded image or media size to 575 pixels wide.
Add your own avatar by joining Kukla's Korner, or logging in and uploading one in your member control panel.
Captchas bug you? Join KK or log in and you won't have to bother.
Most Recent Blog Posts
Detroit Is Finding New Ways to Win
Dater Updates Roy’s Coaching Status With Avs
Hockey Talk On A Tuesday Morning
Video- Detroit’s 3:00 Minute Mark Warm-Up Tradition Explained By Kris Draper
Dater: Colorado Avalanche will name Patrick Roy their next coach
Video- The Best Thing About This Clean Andrew Shaw Hit…
About Kukla's Korner Hockey
Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.
From breaking news to in-depth stories around the league, KK Hockey is updated with fresh stories all day long and will bring you the latest news as quickly as possible.
Email Paul anytime at pk@kuklaskorner.com
