A) Retired Players Under Contract
If a player retires and they are still under contract, they still have to be compensated. They would be owed 50% of their remaining contract. Therefore is Nicklas Lidstrom retires and has a contract of $5.0m (2013-14, 2 more years), would then be owed $2.5m x 2 years. This could be paid out all in one year or up to the max of years remaining on the contract.
If a player retires in majors or minors they must be compensated under this rule. The player can not be left on roster, they must be paid their 50% compensation at time of retirement.
B) Players Moving Leagues
They follow the above rule as well except that the GM can choose to keep the player in case they decide to come back to the NHL.
These players may also be waived to the minors if in the last year of their contracts.
C) Death
If a player dies while still under contract their contract becomes null and void. Therefore the player would be released off the team and no cost.
