THE DEFINITIVE RFA GUIDE
You can start sending in your West RFAs anytime. Here are some guidelines/helpful tips to sending in RFA offers to make the process run smoother, including some of my 'trade secrets', just cause i'm a nice guy (avoid the sarcastic remarks):
*If sending a 2way, INCLUDE the AHL salary! This is key, and can also be an effective bargaining chip
*If you don't say it's a 2way, i'm logging it as a 1way offer. It may seem obvious, but it does happen. So if you don't want an ECHLer on your roster making 700k/yr, you only need to type 4 charatcers, '2way'. You don't even need to add the grammatically-correct hyphen. I'm not picky.
*If you qualify a guy, there is a chance he accepts his QO if it's in the player's best interest. That's the risk/reward of the RFA system.
now, the tips:
*Don't be afraid to offer a guy below his QO. Most of the time they won't take it cause...well why would they? but it might make sense if it's worth it to the player. For example:
- If its a 1way
-If it has a higher AHL pay in exchange for a break in NHL pay. Especially effective if he's in a tight battle for an NHL spot, as a lower caphit gives a guy an edge
*There are some 'perks' you can use, even with RFAs. Offering the 'C', the 'A', even NTCs/NMCs (they won't go in effect until a guy enters his UFA years, but if a guy is say 1yr from UFA and you offer a 3yr contract, the last 2 can include NTC/NMC). Get creative
*This is probably my favourite that even some CBA veterans don't catch. weither a players previous deal was 1way or 2way has NO bearing on your offer. A player must be given a 1way RFA offer if they meet ALL of the following:
-60gms played this yr (or in our case, projected to play)
-180gms played the previous 3 seasons
-Did not clear waivers this season
ALL others can be qualified on a 2way. To use an example from my team, Peter REgin won't hit 60gms this yr b/c of his injury. This means to qualify him, all i need to do is offer 1.05M/x, despite teh fact he's currently on a 1way.
Now, this is a good way to tick off your client most times (and I'm not doing it with Regin btw, but i could). But it's useful if (a) you just want to retain his rights, or (b) if he's overpaid atm and you'd bring him back on a cheaper 1way. So proceed with caution
claim O'Reilly
slightly frustrated that they haven't had any interest.
-D Tim Gleason
is still shopping around. Players like Colin Wilson and Ryan Ellis are available for a number 1 center. We're willing to move every other prospect (Beck, Watson, Josi, Roussel, Geoffrion, etc) and every pick (1sts and 2nds in 2012 and 2013) for a top six winger (or two) and a top 4 defenseman (or two).
