by Kraftster on Fri Sep 21, 2012 1:54 pm
Oh god. Its a mess. It wouldn't be so bad if we had a separate rookie/pro draft, but we have a combined draft. We will not be counting this season against any contracts. We plan to have a draft next year to include all of the free agents and 2012 NHL Entry Draft draftees. So that picks are not significantly devalued (for example, with not only Yak, Galchenyuk, etc. available in the draft but also Seth Jones and co. next year), we are going to hold a separate rookie draft after next year's draft, based upon a new draft order generated by a method we've established, for only the 2013 NHL Entry Draft Draftees.
What we haven't decided yet, is what to do with or entry level contracts (farm team). They automatically get a max 3 year deal. They lose eligibility either (a) when they turn 22 if they've played at least 100 games (skater) or 35 games (goalie), (b) when they've played 100 games or 35 games in the event that they are older than 22, or (c) at the expiration of their 3 year deal. For those longer-term players who will be most likely losing eligibility at the expiration of 3 years, we haven't decided what to do yet.
More information than requested, I realize, but it helps me to recite it all and make sure it makes sense.