Quoting: Ledge_And_Dairy
That specifically has happened, giving permission to talk to a pending UFA prior to a trade does not raise their trade value though. They are still traded with only 1 year of term, the selling team has no grounds to extort the buyer for a contract that player has not signed. The selling team can refuse to let the buyer talk to the pending UFA prior to a trade (like Vancouver literally did with Horvat this year) but that's literally it. And sign conditional re-signs are now against the rules there is nothing the seller can do
I am.pretty sure Tkachuk had his extension worked out with Florida prior to that deal..... maybe I am wrong. But given the return, it smacks of the verbal agreement in place prior to the deal happening.
Otherwise, I would think that trade looks more Huberdeau for Tkachuk straight up. Risk for risk.
Granted, both Weegar and Hunerdeau were pending UFAs, but, I would think the Cats knew what they were doing moving both players to make room for that contract.
Kind of where I got the idea from. Difference maybe Pulock is signed sealed and delivered, but if such a deal was verbally agreed upon, the value isn't far off.
Now, if it against the rules, then, no. No way the Isles take on that risk.