NEW! Free Agent Signing System

Below is the league's proposed new Free Agent Signing system based on feedback and input received from GMs across the league.

Basic Ground Rules

• A team may not at any time have more than 5 offers submitted to the NSHLPA. If they're no longer interested in a player they're negotiating with they must e-mail the NSHLPA stating they wish to end negotiations with that player.
• Each wave of submissions is given a set timeline, no offers are to be made to the NSHLPA outside of these waves.
• All contract offers are salary & length only (no bonuses, options).
• A 'No Movement Clause' offered to players 30+ earns a 15% discount on offers while players under 30 will take a 10% discount.
• A 'No Movement Clause' may not be waved for any new contracts signed, any previously agreed to 'No Movement Clauses' do not apply.
• Offers to free agents consist of the player's name, age, position, previous NSHL team / NHL team, previous salary, CBA maximum length / minimum term for his age/experience.
• From the start of free agency until a change is announced all free agent offers must be at least 100% of the player's previous contract in order for it to be a valid offer.
  
  NO blurbs necessary about why the offer is being made, GMs MAY wish to add negotiation points / statements but don't have to

'Final Negotiation Mode'

A player negotiates only with the teams with the top 3 offers (Teams A, B, C). The player agent contacts teams B & C and asks if they wish to make a new offer to try and beat Team A's 'top offer' (not knowing what it is of course). If teams B or C send in a better offer to the NSHLPA, Team A is given the chance to counter whatever the best offer is at the time. Whatever the top offer is after Team A is given the chance to counter (if a counter is even necessary), the player signs the best offer.

The Difference Between Single & Multi-Year Offers

UFAs 33 and older take a 20% discount with each year added.

Therefore - A 1 year offer @ $1,000,000 is the same as a 2 year offer @ $900,000

This is because:

20% of $1,000,000 is $200,000 which is then divided evenly across the entire term of the multi-year offer(s). In this instance that's 2 years, so $100,000 deduction per year is $900,000.

Any offer of $3,000,000 or more per year would only take a 10% deduction.

Unqualified RFAs & 30-32 year old UFAs take a 20% increase with each year added.

Therefore - A 1 year offer @ $1,000,000 is the same as a 2 year offer @ $1,100,000.

This is because:

20% of $1,000,000 is $200,000 which is then divided evenly across the entire term of the multi-year offer(s). In this instance that's 2 years, so $100,000 increase per year is $1,100,000.

Any offer of $3,000,000 or more per year would only take a 10% increase.

Qualified Restricted Free Agents

Qualified RFAs we treat the same as we have in the past and assume they will take the most money available regardless of term so long as they hit the market at the earliest possible age (30). It is to a team's benefit to have an RFA locked up long-term, not necessarily the player's.

The Free Agent Process

Wave 1 (Day 1 & 2)

Each team would be allowed to send in 5 offers.

NSHLPA Response Wave 1 (Day 3 & 4)

The NSHLPA will filter through the offers determining who has received enough offers to enter 'Final Negotiation' mode. Any player that has not received enough offers will remain on the market.

Teams with a contract submitted to a player that is not ready to enter Final Negotiation Mode will be contacted and informed whether or not they're among the Top 3 offers for the player. If they're not they're informed they may re-submit an offer. If they are, the NSHLPA will inform them that the player wishes to remain on the market and await new offers and will keep their offer on the table for the time being.

Players that receive 7 or more different offers after Day 1 & 2 will go to 'Final Negotiation' mode.

Wave 2 (Day 5 & 6)

Teams that are in Final Negotiation mode and are Teams B & C (the lower of the three offers) may re-submit their offers to try and be the top offer.

Teams that had an offer to a player who was not ready to sign and were not in that player's Top 3 will be allowed to re-submit their offers.

Teams may submit new offers should they have room to negotiate with new players (5 negotiations at a time max).

NSHLPA Response Wave 2 (Day 7 & 8)

Based on who has the top offer from the original set of Final Negotiations (A,B,C) the player signs.

NSHLPA will determine if any teams B & C that are in Final Negotiation mode have topped Team A's offer. Which ever of the counter offers by Team B or C is highest and tops Team A will become the new target to beat. Team A will be given a chance to counter this offer.

The NSHLPA will determine if any players not already in Final Negotiation Mode are ready to narrow down their negotiations. Any player that has not received enough offers will remain on the market.

Teams with a contract submitted to a player that is not ready to enter Final Negotiation Mode will be contacted and informed whether or not they're among the Top 3 offers for the player. If they're not, then they're informed they may re-submit an offer. If they are, the NSHLPA will inform them that the player wishes to remain on the market and await new offers and will keep their offer on the table for the time being.

Players that receive 5 or more different offers at this time will enter 'Final Negotiation' mode.

Waves continue back and forth in this fashion. The NSHLPA will set the number of offers it takes for a player to enter 'Final Negotiation' at least ONE NSHLPA Response Wave in advance after this point based on how negotiations have gone and where the interest is.

Any team that has been the highest bidder for a player for 3 (three) consecutive waves and the number of offers for that player has not increased since that team's opening offer will be able to sign that player regardless of the 'minimum number of offers' at the time.

Team Discounts

The league will not apply team discounts to any negotiation this off-season and instead will wait until the following off-season (between Season 9 & 10) where an average of Season 8 & Season 9s information will be used to determine the discount. After that, all discounts applied will be based on averaging the previous two seasons.

All discount %s will be determined prior to free agency beginning based on the stats needed for the various categories below and will be made available to everyone. These %s will only be used by the NSHLPA to determine the 'better offer' between to close or identical offers.

Major Transactions Made Compared to the Rest of the League (Trades, Waiver Losses, Coach Firings)

Teams 1-8 in transactions made (most-least) = 0% discount
Teams 9-16 in transactions made (most-least) = 1% discount
Teams 17-24 in transactions made (most-least) = 2% discount

Sales Promotion Record (Ability to Meet Sales Promotions)

.500 or better = 1% discount
.499 or worse = 0% discount

Up & Coming Talent in the System Compared to the Rest of the League (# of Prospects, Draft Picks and Rookies on hand)

Teams 1-8 in Youth on hand (most-least) = 2% discount
Teams 9-16 in Youth on hand (most-least) = 1% discount
Teams 17-24 in Youth on hand (most-least) = 0% discount

Overall Team Win % (Pro and Farm Win % combined average)

Teams 1-4 in Team Win % (best-worst) = 4% discount
Teams 5-8 in Team Win % (best-worst) = 3% discount
Teams 9-12 in Team Win % (best-worst) = 2% discount
Teams 13-16 in Team Win % (best-worst) = 1% discount
Teams 17-24 in Team Win % (best-worst) = 0% discount