EXHIBIT 15
COMPENSATORY DRAFT SYSTEM
1. A Compensatory Free Agent ("CFA") is defined as a Group III unrestricted free agent who
signed a contract with a New Club. Clubs that suffer a "net loss" (as described below) shall be eligible
to be awarded a Compensatory Draft Selection in the subsequent Entry Draft in accordance with the
provisions of Paragraph 3 below.
2. The following calculation, calculated as of June 30 each year, based on a player's (i) "average
annual compensation" and (ii) honors, shall be used to determine a CFA's ranking on a percentile basis
as against all other players on Club rosters at the conclusion of a regular season:
(a) All CFAs and other League players on rosters at the conclusion of a regular season shall
be ranked in ascending order by their "average annual compensation," which shall be determined by
dividing a player's Compensation (for all contract years) by the number of contract years. (Thus, the
player with the lowest average annual Compensation shall be ranked first, etc.) Each player shall
receive 1/100th of a point per dollar of his "average annual compensation." Rankings and calculations
for CFAs shall be based on the CFA's new contract and shall be determined as of the first day of the
regular season.
(b) At the end of each year, the League shall assign to all such players additional points
based on honors in the prior three Seasons, as follows:
(1) Twenty (20) points for being selected First Team NHL All-Star by the PHWA.
(2) Ten (10) points for being selected Second Team NHL All-Star by the PHWA,
[or for being awarded by the Lady Byng or Masterton Trophies.]
(3) Thirty (30) points for being awarded the Hart, Norris, Ross, Vezina, Selke, or
Conn Smythe Trophies.
(4) Ten (10) points for being selected Captain.
(5) Twenty (20) points for winning the Stanley Cup.
(6) Twenty (20) points if the player is 32 on June 30; fifteen (15) points if the player
is 33 on June 30; ten (10) points if the player is 34 on June 30.
(c) The sum of the numerical values in (a) and (b) above shall represent each player's final
numerical value.
(d) The players shall then be re-ranked based upon such final numerical values.
(e) Each CFA's final numerical value shall be measured in percentile terms against all
players' (including the CFA's) numerical values to determine the position, if any, of a Club's
Compensatory Draft Selection.
3.
(a) A Club shall qualify to be eligible for a Compensatory Draft Selection if:
(i) it has lost a CFA and not gained a corresponding CFA in an equal or higher
percentile bracket (based on subsection (c) below); and
(ii) the Club has suffered a "net loss" of CFAs when the numerical value of all CFA's
gained is deducted from the numerical value of all CFA's lost;
(b) The CFA's for which a Club did not receive a corresponding CFA gain per subsection
3(a)(i) above shall then be ranked according to their numerical value. Then in descending order based
upon a CFA's numerical value, each Club shall be awarded a Compensatory Draft Selection based
upon its CFA, up to a maximum of two per Club. This procedure shall continue until the available
Compensatory Draft Selections are exhausted.
(c) The position of a Compensatory Draft Selection shall be determined by a CFAs
percentile ranking pursuant to 2(d) above and the following provisions:
(1) Clubs that lost a CFA within the top 5% of all League players shall receive a
Compensatory Draft Selection no earlier than the 11th selection in the second round of the
Entry Draft.
(2) Clubs that lost a CFA below the top 5% of all League Players but within the top
10% shall receive a Compensatory Draft Selection following the 52nd selection in the Entry
Draft.
(3) Clubs that lost a CFA below the top 10% of all League Players but within the top
15% shall receive a Compensatory Draft Selection following the 78th selection in the Entry
Draft.
(4) Clubs that lost a CFA below the top 15% of all League Players but within the top
25% shall receive a Compensatory Draft Selection following the 104th selection in the Entry
Draft.
(5) Clubs that lost a CFA below the top 25% of all League Players but within the top
50% shall receive a Compensatory Draft Selection following the 130th selection in the Entry
Draft.
(6) Clubs that lost a CFA below the top 50% of all League Players but within the top
75% shall receive a Compensatory Draft Selection following the 156th selection in the Entry
Draft.
(7) Clubs that lost a CFA below the top 75% of all League Players shall receive a
Compensatory Draft Selection following the 234th selection in the Entry Draft.
(8) The exact slot, subject to the above guidelines and availability of Compensatory
Draft Selections, shall be determined by the Commissioner prior to the Entry Draft.