Correct1. In order for Zadorov to play a 9-game NHL tryout, he must be signed to an ELC.
Correct2. >9 NHL games burns a year of ELC; </=9 and his contract slides.
An Accrued Season, which is what counts for UFA eligibility, actually requires 40 games on the active roster (not playing that many games). That number was pro-rated last year which is why it affected Grigorenko. As for Zadorov's RFA eligibility, that comes after he's had three years of "professional experience" (in other words: 10 NHL games for this year or next year or 10 professional games after that)3. >/=26 NHL games this year decreases his UFA elgibility age by 1 year (or is it his RFA eligibility age, or both?).
I don't know if it's still a rule, but it used to be that if a player plays, two seasons of 6 or more games, he would no longer be Calder eligible. So if a player was to get a 9 game tryout, and then another one the next season, he would not be Calder eligible in the next season. Small thing.
For discussions sake, top-4 is a fairly low expectation for the kid... I'd guess that's his floor. If he was from Edmonton and named Gord MacGroder he'd have been neck-and-neck with Seth Jones IMO. If you didn't know him as a defender and watched his OHL reel, you'd think he was a 1st round power-foward prospect. Perhaps I'm just enamored with our shiny new toy, but I see a future Russian National team and Sabre legend. Cheers Zads!
Yeah, I really meant that as an 'almost lock to reach' top 4 (so yes, floor).
Potential to be a top pairing, physical, jump in the play, hard shot, all around monster sized badass Dman.
"I like hit and score goal" - Zadorovism 14.1