Eurolanche

Could O´Relly not be back this season?

Partially is the answer on the previous question. Ryan O´Reilly is still the restricted free agent. He could get offer from other NHL teams and then the Colorado Avalanche management would have to match the offer to get him back. But this is not happening and will not likely happen. There is a little bigger problem.

According to several websites, there is one and simple rule: “If a restricted free agent does not sign with an NHL club by December 1 of that year, that player is declared ineligible to play in the NHL until the following season.” Today is the 1^st December 2012 and O´Reilly still does not have new contract. With the easy logic, it means he cannot play in the NHL in the season of 2012/13 at any point.

It is not a true. At least, it is not true-true. This rule is the part of the old deal or so-called CBA between the NHL and NHLPA. The old CBA has expired on 15^th September 2012. At the present, there are no rules. That´s the reason there is no NHL hockey.

Firstly, we can expect the new CBA will bring major changes in all issues including in the RFA part of the deal. Secondly, if the deadline for the RFAs will stay the same, we could expect some exceptions for them, so they will able to play in this season. Finally, if the deadline will stay unchanged and there will be no exceptions, then we can say the theory about O´Reilly is not coming back is true.

Update

We have forgotten to add one more and very important fact. There is no CBA, so the teams are not allowed to sign or re-sign any players. There is no way for O´Reilly and the Avs how to solve his situation during the lockout.

Also, we have find out that the NHL should give to those players the exceptions, so it would not be a problem to get O´Reilly back after lockout is gone. We will see.