kdb209
Registered User
- Jan 26, 2005
- 14,870
- 6
I brought this up on the Trade Rumors/Free Agent Board on the Jack Johnson thread, but I thought I would post this here too, since this is a somewhat under reported/discussed issue with the new CBA.
Overage Juniors (21+ yo) and College Players who complete their 4 years no longer become UFAs. Under the new CBA, they re-enter the draft.
In case you were wondering about the referenced Article 10.1(d):
Players only become UFAs under 10.1(d) if they are no longer eligible for the draft (for example already drafted twice). Unsigned College Players and Overage Juniors are still eligible under Article 8.4, so they do not become UFAs and instead are eligible to be drafted again.
Overage Juniors (21+ yo) and College Players who complete their 4 years no longer become UFAs. Under the new CBA, they re-enter the draft.
My gut tells me that JJ's camp told me he WOULD NEVER sign with the Hurricanes and that he planned on playing 4 years at U of M and becoming a UFA
JJ cannot play out 4 years at Michigan and become a UFA.
Under the old CBA he could. Under the new CBA, if he did not sign by Aug 15 following his class' graduation, he would have re-entered the draft the following June.
The same now holds true for overage Juniors. They are no longer UFA's if they do not sign in 2 years and are then 21 or older by the next entry draft. They go back in the draft also.
Old CBA:
8.4. Eligibility for Claim.
(a) All players age 19 or older are eligible for claim in the Entry Draft, except:
(i) a player on the Reserve List of a Club, other than as a Try-Out;(b) In addition to the players referred to in sub-paragraph (a), any player who (i) will be
(ii) a player who has been claimed in two prior Entry Drafts;
(iii) a player who previously played in the League and became a free agent pursuant to
this Agreement;
(iv) a player age 21 or older who played hockey for at least one season in North
America when he was age 18, 19 or 20.
age 18 on or before September 15 in the year in which such Entry Draft is held, or (ii) reaches his 19th
birthday between September 16 and December 31, both dates included, next following the Entry Draft
and who in either case wishes to become eligible for selection in the Entry Draft, can attain eligibility by
delivering to the League a written notice in the form of Exhibit 3 hereto prior to the later of (A) May 1,
or (B) seven days following the date such player finishes competing on his team in the year in which such
draft is to be held.
New CBA:
Becoming a UFA at 21, rather than entering the draft, now only applies to players who were not selected in a previous entry draft. If a player was previously drafted, he goes back into the draft, even if he is overage (21+ yo).8.4 Eligibility for Claim.
(a) All Players age 18 or older are eligible for claim in the Entry Draft,
except:
(i) a Player on the Reserve List of a Club, other than as a try-out;
(ii) a Player who has been claimed in two prior Entry Drafts;
(iii) a Player who previously played in the League and became a Free
Agent pursuant to this Agreement;
(iv) a Player age 21 or older who: (A) has not been selected in a
previous Entry Draft and (B) played hockey for at least one season
in North America when he was age 18, 19, or 20 and shall be
eligible to enter the League as an Unrestricted Free Agent pursuant
to Article 10.1(d); and
(v) a Player age 22 or older who has not been selected in a previous
Entry Draft and shall be eligible to enter the League as an
Unrestricted Free Agent pursuant to Article 10.1(d).
In case you were wondering about the referenced Article 10.1(d):
(d) Draft Related Unrestricted Free Agents.
(i) Any Player not eligible for claim in any future Entry Draft
pursuant to this Agreement and not on a Club's Reserve List shall
be an Unrestricted Free Agent. Further, any Player eligible for
claim in the Entry Draft, but who was unclaimed, shall be an
Unrestricted Free Agent subject to the provisions of Section 8.9(b).
(ii) Each Player referred to in subsection (d)(i) above shall, during the
period of his Free Agency in accordance with Section 8.9(b), if
applicable, be completely free to negotiate and sign an SPC with
any Club, and any Club shall be completely free to negotiate and
sign an SPC with such Player, without penalty or restriction
subject to the provisions of Article 9 of this Agreement, if
applicable, and without being subject to any Right of First Refusal,
Draft Choice Compensation or any other compensation or
equalization obligation of any kind.
Players only become UFAs under 10.1(d) if they are no longer eligible for the draft (for example already drafted twice). Unsigned College Players and Overage Juniors are still eligible under Article 8.4, so they do not become UFAs and instead are eligible to be drafted again.