There have been three areas of the rules which have been adjusted. Please read and take note;This first rule change is a new rule entirely. The rule is located in the
"Contracts"section of the Franchise NHL Rules. Please note this rule change will become effective at the conclusion of this season. It reads as follows:
Signing players who were released under contract (rule pending until beginning of season 2)
If a player, who was released under contract, is signed to a new contract; the former team of said player is relieved of the salary obligation, equal to the new contract.
Example: So, lets say team ABC releases Dan Doe under contract and owes him 2m for 2 seasons (after 66.66% discount and etc, for ease of discussion). Team XYZ signs Dan Doe to a 2 year contract @ 1m per. Team ABC now only owes Dan the contract termination value - the value of the Dan's new contract (2m - 1m = 1m). The length of the termination remains the same however; team ABC cant restructure to use the 2m of relief in one year for example. So in essence, Dan's buyout from team ABC is now 1m for 2 seasons instead of 2m for 2 seasons.
If team XYZ signs Dan to a 1 year $1m contract, then team ABC is only relieved of 1m for that year, until another contract is signed with Dan.
The second rule is also brand new, and pertains to injured reserve. It is located in the
"League Settings, Scoring & Requirements" section of the Rules. This rule will become effective immediately. It reads as follows:
Long-term Injured Reserve
Each team will be allowed to place 1 player on Long-term Injured Reserve (LTIR). Players salary will still count against a teams cap, however this will free up 1 roster spot.
The third adjustment is actually a set of new rules. These rules are effective immediately. They are located in the
"Draft Picks, Entry Draft, Minor League Rosters" section of the Rules. The changes read as follows:
* The Franchise NHL Entry Draft will last 4 rounds, but teams are not required to make picks if they do not wish to make room on their MiLR.
* Draftees are the only players eligible for placement on the MiLR.
* Once a player is removed from the MiLR they are ineligible to return to the MiLR.