The National Hockey League ruled yesterday that Calgary Flames forward Dean McAmmond is ineligible to play for the rest of this season.
After almost two days of hearings, the league determined that Tuesday's trade between Calgary and Colorado, which sent McAmmond back to the Flames for a draft pick, violated Article 13.36 of the NHL collective bargaining agreement.
The Flames traded McAmmond, Derek Morris and Jeff Shantz to the Avalanche last October, three days before the annual waiver draft, in a five-player deal which gave them Chris Drury and Stéphane Yelle. NHL rules state a player traded four weeks before the waiver draft cannot be reacquired by the same team within the same season.
"The player technically was not eligible to return to Calgary," Bill Daly, the NHL's executive vice-president and chief legal officer, said yesterday in a statement.
The rule was introduced to prevent teams with deep rosters from "hiding" players from the waiver draft on another team's roster, only to reacquire those players at a later date for some token price.
The good news, from the Flames' perspective, was that they were able to retain McAmmond's playing rights. From now until April, McAmmond can participate in practices and all other team functions, but cannot dress for any of Calgary's remaining games, nor play in them.
Flames general manager Craig Button said yesterday he was disappointed, mostly for McAmmond.
"He's a competitor and now he won't be able to compete until next year. The league said we didn't violate the spirit of the rule, but the reality is, the league has to enforce the rules and everybody had to abide by them." There was no immediate word on who would pay the remainder of McAmmond's contract for this season, only that he would get paid.
The league originally approved Tuesday's trade, in which Calgary surrendered a fifth-round draft choice to Colorado for McAmmond's playing rights. The Flames' plan was to reunite McAmmond with centre Craig Conroy and winger Jarome Iginla. The three made up Calgary's No. 1 line for most of last season, scoring a total of 100 goals.
The Flames, who are in last place in the Northwest Division, 16 points out of a playoff spot, reported the trade error to the league themselves.
"After becoming aware that the transaction had been concluded in error, we consulted with the clubs involved in the trade and determined that, while a reversal of the trade was not required, the player nonetheless will not participate in league play for Calgary for the balance of the season," Daly said.
"Although the player will not participate in league games, his salary and all other benefits will be continued. The league regrets the circumstances that necessitated this course of action."