RFA Question

[Douggy]

Team A has a restricted free agent. They qualify him and he rejects the offer.

What happens in the following situations:
a) Team B comes along and makes a better offer. Team A matches. Does the player choose where he wants to go?

b) Team A is POed that the player didn't accept the offer, so after August 15th, they never ever offer him a contract again. Do they maintain his rights forever?

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[kdb209]

Team A has a restricted free agent. They qualify him and he rejects the offer.

What happens in the following situations:
a) Team B comes along and makes a better offer. Team A matches. Does the player choose where he wants to go?

b) Team A is POed that the player didn't accept the offer, so after August 15th, they never ever offer him a contract again. Do they maintain his rights forever?

a) If Team A matches, the player has no choice - he can only play for Team A. He is legally bound by the CBA to sign a contract with Team A and Team A is not able to trade the player (to any team) for at leats 1 year.

b) If Team A rescinds their QO (under the new CBA, all QOs expired on 8/15) and the player does not sign an offer sheet with a Team B, he can only negotiate a contract with Team A. If he doesn't by December 1, he is inelligible to play in the NHL that season, but Team A retains his rights until he becomes a UFA. Team A is not required to offer a new QO after the next offseason, however the player may elect salary arbitration after this season - it is too late to elect arbitration this year. In the worst case the team will maintain his rights untill he becomes a UFA at 29/28/27yo. The Player and the NHLPA could also file a greivence with Team A and the league if Team A refuses to negotiate. Nothing stops the player from playing in the AHL or in Europe during this whole process.

Caveat: these were the terms of the old CBA, but it is vert likely that they are the same or very similar.