StlBluesfan4ever

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Sport...473/story.html


Oh yea, perfect fit in L.A. if Hossa didn't want to sign long term with Pittsburgh because He wanted a better chance to win a cup, then I don't see how the Kings have a chance to sign him unless he's ready to trade the hope of a championship for money.

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Bless_D_Mess

How can you trade rights to an unrestricted free agent?

You're going to trade rights for an unrestricted free agent on Monday when free agency begins on Wednesday?

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HEY SATHER - NO MORE HAS BEENS, EH?

RStar

Just to give you exclusive rights to dealing with the player for a few days.

It is done quite a bit in basketball. It is worked out with the player before hand that they will sign with the team they are traded to.

VICE™

A contract is signed until July 1st, which is the roll-over date to following years, or free agency. Trading a player like this is trading the player, but you have a window of owning the players current contract until free agency begins.

Meaning, until July 1st, Hossa is still property of the Red Wings, meaning that the Red Wings are the only team that can legally negotiate a new contract with him until then. If a trade is made, then another team takes Hossa's contract and they can negotiate with him before free agency.

That's the technical aspect of how they can trade rights.

If your question is why would a team do it, then there's a ton of reasons. In the case of LA, they feel they could bring in a marquee player without having to compete with offers from teams that are better or could offer more money. In the case of Bouwmeester's rights going to Calgary, they identified the player they wanted and want him in the fold as soon as possible to build the rest of the team around it.

Plus the cost is relatively low.

I think that Tampa Bay gave up a 3rd and 4th for the rights to Roberts and Malone last year. Calgary only gave up the rights to Leopold and a 3rd for the rights to Bouwmeester. Nashville gave the Flyers the rights to Hartnell and Timonen a couple years back for a 1st.

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Dstan

The Hawks signed him!

Bless_D_Mess

But why would Hossa negotiate with one team one day before 30 teams can bid for him? That makes no sense.

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HEY SATHER - NO MORE HAS BEENS, EH?

lapniappe

Bless - not all players want to get into a bidding war, they have certain conditions and what not and if the team that their rights are traded to can fullfill that [See Boumeester], then it's a good thing. If not, then you are screwed. [a good GM usually gets a conditional draft pick in the oft chance you can't sign the player]. If it's a good player you really take that risk.

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The Ottawa Sentators have Phyllophobia.

StlBluesfan4ever

Guess the wings are left high and dry, Hossa walks to a division rival and the wings don't even get a draft pick. But, can't say I'm real happy to see him in chi town. I'm little more nervous with him on a young up and coming talented team than the older set in their ways wings.

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