What does it mean to aquire rights?

Question

I have seen a lot of news in the NHL lately about teams aquiring rights to other players. I believe Montreal aquired exclusive rights to talk to Mats Sundin and, more recently, the Lighting aquired rights to Malone and Roberts from Pittsburgh. What exactly does this mean? I think the Lighting traded away a 3rd round pick if they sign the Malone and a 4th round pick if they don't. Isn't this a very stupid trade? Why not just wait 3 days and then have your crack at then when they hit free agency? You know that Pittsburgh wasn't going to sign them right?

Answer 1

the rules of the free agency are that only a players current team can propose contracts to them before july 1st. once july 1st comes around, if they are an unrestricted free agent, anyone can sign them, and if they are a restricted free agent, only their team can sign them, or another team can but must give up draft picks.

to acquire rights is to trade something to another team for a players "rights", meaning that you are now the only team allowed to talk to them before july 1st. once july first comes around, any team can talk to them, but you got a head start. as mentioned above, many players will sign with the team that got their rights, even after july 1st

Montreal did not get rights to sundin, but talking privileges. if the get a deal done, then they will trade for his rights.

tampa trading away a draft pick ensures that they are the only team able to talk to him until the 1st, meaning they have an advantage. also, as stated before, many players will sign with whoever has their rights even after the first.

Answer 2

Aquiring the rights of a player helps a team get the first chance to sign the player thats about to become a free agent. and if they dont get it done by the time the deadline past the player will usually sign with that team anyway.

philly did that last year w/ scott hartnell.