Thanks for the clarifications, I'm surprised the 30 day window had already expired.
I still have 2 questions:
1) With Spezza's no trade clause, could he refuse a team if he is claimed on waivers and still remain a Leaf / Marlie?
2) Could he then practice with the Leafs?
I want to keep him around for now as a replacement if one of our top 3 centers go down.
I like the idea of keeping the 4th line intact and their role defined. I see this as being advantageous when we get to playoff hockey. They're not perfect but hard working and can get better if they continue to work hard and we have a full lineup.
You can then manage the minutes if Spezza is the 3rd line c and utilize the top 6 more when the game dictates it.
1) The difference between a NTC and NMC is what matters here with Spezza. No trade clause does not prevent a player from being placed on waivers and claimed.. If that player has a full No Movement clause then he can't be placed on waivers.
2) He can remain with the team and stay in Toronto .. I think the only thing in the CBA IIRC is that he couldn't travel on road trips because of those team travel costs are factored in for active players only, as well as some insurance issues. Very small issues.
Since Spezza has a contract < $925k it wouldn't matter if he went to the AHL or not because his full amount wouldn't count on the NHL cap. No team would care if he plays in the AHL after that point of sits in Leafs pressbox or sits on his couch as home.
As far as practicing goes he more than likely would need to do that with the Marlies as opposed to the Leafs, because he would need to be officially recalled to be on the ice with the Leafs at practice and that is likely mostly due to injury insurance issues in case he got hurt while practicing and not be on the NHL roster officially during that time.
The main reason for these CBA rules are intended for Salary Cap issues and so once a team has placed a player on waivers and every team has a shot at claiming him, then there really can't be any questionable salary cap end-around type concerns league wide.