from Ken Campbell of the Hockey News,

It has widely been reported that Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jonas Frogren, whose case will go before an arbitrator, had his contract nullified by the NHL because the league considered him a “defected player,” but the Leafs consider him an unrestricted free agent.

That’s not entirely correct. The NHL agrees Frogren is an unrestricted free agent, but has argued that because Frogren was once a defected player on the Calgary Flames’ reserve list – he no longer holds that status – he is subject to entry-level restrictions on his salary.

The Leafs and the NHLPA argue the collective bargaining agreement makes it clear that no European player 28 years old or older is subject to entry-level stipulations “under any circumstances.”

more NHL bits including Kings cap talk and the Lowe/Burke situation…