Not sure if this is the best place for this, but I will ask anyways.
Before the new CBA any NHL team who drafted a player out of the NCAA, held onto their rights for 4 years and 1 more year until after their class graduation date, so in theory a total of 5 years. This is my understanding, but correct me if I am wrong.
When the 5 years are up the player would have become an unrestricted free agent, or after the 4 years if the team released him.
My first question is, if a player had finished his 4 years of college hockey, then signed a 1 year contract with a team in the AHL, IHL, European team or even joined at the time Team Canada or Team USA ( when they had the olympic programs running ) after that 1 season was done, would they be an unrestricted free agent?.
Second question.
Under then new CBA, NHL teams hold the players rights for 4 years, then the player if I understand it correctly becomes and unrestricted free agent. Does this ruling apply to players drafted before 2005? or just the ones after 2005?. If these players don't sign, when exactly do they become unrestriced free agents?, when can they sign with a team? July 1st or August?, I remember there was some special date, August 15th a few years ago, but don't seem to see it mentioned anywhere for 2007.
Third Question.
Do teams get compensated for losing an NCAA player to free agency? and if so is there some system used?.
Before the new CBA any NHL team who drafted a player out of the NCAA, held onto their rights for 4 years and 1 more year until after their class graduation date, so in theory a total of 5 years. This is my understanding, but correct me if I am wrong.
When the 5 years are up the player would have become an unrestricted free agent, or after the 4 years if the team released him.
My first question is, if a player had finished his 4 years of college hockey, then signed a 1 year contract with a team in the AHL, IHL, European team or even joined at the time Team Canada or Team USA ( when they had the olympic programs running ) after that 1 season was done, would they be an unrestricted free agent?.
Second question.
Under then new CBA, NHL teams hold the players rights for 4 years, then the player if I understand it correctly becomes and unrestricted free agent. Does this ruling apply to players drafted before 2005? or just the ones after 2005?. If these players don't sign, when exactly do they become unrestriced free agents?, when can they sign with a team? July 1st or August?, I remember there was some special date, August 15th a few years ago, but don't seem to see it mentioned anywhere for 2007.
Third Question.
Do teams get compensated for losing an NCAA player to free agency? and if so is there some system used?.