About trades, etc?

Question

I was wondering if someone could give me some information about how the NHL draft works? I think I understand a UFR is someone who has finished their contract, so they can sign wherever they want? If someone has been signed, and it was through, for example, 2009, is that person required to stay with that team until that point? I was looking at a player I am interested in and it says he was signed to his team for 2001-2009. Does that mean he stays there till the end of the 2009 season, if he doesn't get traded? Can he even be traded?I have so much to learn about hockey!

Answer 1

If a player is under contract he is the property of that franchise for the duration of said agreement. In terms of being traded most players can be dealt. There are some players in the league with no trade deals. The Toronto Maplae Leafs have several no trade deals built into several players contracts. This is a growing trend amongst some of the league's better players. It is also a trend that is making it increasingly more difficult for General Managers to make deals at the tarde deadline each season as the player can still be approached and asked to waive his no trade clause - some will waive it only if dealt to 'specific or selected' teams. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

A UFA is a unrestricted free agent who is done with their contract and can sign with anyone (ex: Brian Campbell, Marian Hossa) However there are also Restricted Free Agents, these are younger players with finished contracts, such as Ryan Miller. The rights to miller can be kept by the sabres by tendering him an offer sheet ( usually a slight raise to keep him happy) But if miller wants more money he can file for arbitration and have a third party decide a fair one or two year deal (Briere got 5 million, up from 1.75) Also another team can send an offer sheet to steal a  player and the original team can either be stuck with that offer salary and keep him or the other team gets the player and has to forfeit draft picks in return, example- vanek. Lastly, any player can be traded as long as they dont have a no trade clause in their contract, which are rarely given out