Barclay was fairly accurate, sometimes it is even more egregious and a team with deep pockets just trying to stay afloat player-wise. I have heard some teams receive little to nothing in regard to money from the players they "bought." Merely receiving the player's services for the year and the chance to retain them for last season. When it comes to being able to ice a team or folding, many organizations will bite the bullet and try to hang on. This is hard to track because the teams would trade players on the eve of training camp. Players were never even rostered and there is no public paper trail to follow. Having given thousands of dollars already, the player lacks much recourse other than to report to their new team. Let's not forget that these teenagers usually lack the ability to properly and eloquently stand up for themselves, while also desiring to just play hockey and ignore the rest of things.
El Paso habitually brings 40+ skaters into camp (goalies are a dime a dozen at that level) and culls it down to ~25 skaters to keep and the rest get sold. This happens in many leagues and I do not wish to only single out El Paso/WSHL. Joshua Kirk, '98 born defenseman was traded by the Long Beach Sharks to the Glacier Nationals the day he reported to Long Beach. I can't speak to the money aspect but Stanaway definitely received something for the kid. About a month later, the Sharks sent a goalie and a forward out to Glacier in exchange for another defenseman. In essence, sending 3 players out for one. Don't forget that Stanaway, spent a few years in the WSHL. I want to close by specifying that I have no qualms with Stanaway, nor am I bashing him, he is an extremely talented coach, just pointing out the facts.
