Interesting tweak to the pre-free agency interview period rule: Teams are now openly allowed to talk to free agents (both restricted and unrestricted) about their actual contract demands as well as their potential interest for six days before free agency opens (interview period begins Wednesday, June 25).
This is a case of the League allowing to happen what it couldn’t control from happening anyway. Nonetheless, it is now open season to hash out the parameters of a contract with a player who still technically belongs to another team. Apparently some do-good teams were peeved last summer that this went on anyway while they tried to respect tampering rules. If that was the case for a significant number of the League’s teams, you wonder if GMs will be in a rush to get something done on their expiring UFA contracts before that date knowing the player has the opportunity to negotiate in earnest with whoever he wants come next Wednesday.
Friday Links:
- Toronto Sun: Brian Burke – “I would take the job in Toronto again. I had no regrets about working here. I loved it.”
- Dreger: Maple Leafs would prefer to re-sign Cody Franson
- TSN1050: Dreger and McKenzie’s radio segment from yesterday
- Star Tribune: NHL makes significant revision to free-agent interview period rule
- Globe and Mail: The NHL’s top free agents – Goaltenders
- Edmonton Journal: The Case for Trading David Perron
- Sportsnet: Garret Joyce puts a ridiculous price on the Leafs moving up to #1 in the draft
- PPP: It’s Really Easy to be a GM in Toronto
- The Star: Maple Leafs have lengthy to-do list this off season
- Canes Country: Hurricanes’ hire of new head coach Bill Peters heralds a new era
- Pens Labrynth: Penguins closing in on Willie Desjardins as their next head coach?
- The Score: Fan of an Eastern Conference team? You should fear Tampa Bay
