It was my understanding from CHI fans that CHI would be on the hook for that money if he retired. They were saying as much in response to proposals that Hossa be traded, that they couldn't take the risk.
4 am is not the time to be reading the Article 50 of the CBA, but to me it really looks like that the Cap Advantage Recapture hits specifically the team which got the Cap Advantage in the first place, except the one who traded the Contract away prior the CBA 2013 going into force.
[FIELDSET="CBA 50.5(d)(ii)(B)"]For any period during which the Player under a Long-Term Contract is no longer playing in the League during the term of that Long-Term Contract by reason of retirement, "defection" from the NHL or otherwise (but not death) (such that he is not playing and is not receiving Salary pursuant to that Long-Term Contract), an amount attributable to that Player shall nonetheless continue to be included in his Club's Averaged Club Salary as described below.
(1) Upon that Player's failure to play in the League by reason
of retirement, "defection" from the NHL or otherwise (but
not death) (such that he is not playing and is not receiving
Salary pursuant to his Long-Term Contract) (assuming it is
prior to the conclusion of the Long-Term Contract), the
difference between the sum of the Actual Salary and
Bonuses received by that Player under that SPC and the
sum of the Averaged Amounts charged against the Club's
Averaged Club Salary under that SPC shall be calculated as
follows:
(i) First, calculate the total Actual Salary and
Bonuses paid to that Player under that SPC ("Total
Payment") until the date of such retirement, defection or
otherwise (but not death);
(ii) Second, calculate the total Averaged
Amount charged against the Club's Averaged Club Salary
for the Player under that SPC ("Total Cap Charge") until
the date of such retirement, defection or otherwise (but not
death);
(iii) Subtract Total Cap Charge from Total
Payment. That number shall be referred to as the "Cap
Advantage Recapture."
(iv) The Cap Advantage Recapture shall be
charged against the Club's Averaged Club Salary in equal
proportions in each League Year over the remaining term
of the SPC (i.e., the yearly charge shall be calculated by
dividing the Cap Advantage Recapture by the number of
seasons remaining under that SPC).[/FIELDSET]
[FIELDSET="CBA 50.5(d)(ii)(B)(2)"]Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 50.5(d)(ii)(A) and (B), in the event that any such Long-Term Contract is Assigned during its term, each Club for which the Player plays under the terms of that Long-Term Contract shall be subject to being charged with any and all "Cap Advantage Recapture" amounts it receives pursuant to that Long-Term Contract, provided, however, that if a Club Traded a Long-Term Contract prior to the execution of this Agreement (including any binding Memorandum of Understanding) under which it gained a "cap advantage," the "Cap Advantage Recapture" shall not apply to that Club for that Long-Term Contract. For purposes of clarity, the Club to whom such Long-Term Contract was Assigned after the execution of this Agreement (including any binding Memorandum of Understanding) shall be subject to the Cap Advantage Recapture (if any).[/FIELDSET]