What happened: Trade protection may begin only when a player reaches Group 3 unrestricted-free-agent eligibility. If the original club declines to match, all terms offered by the new club become binding.
Why it matters: The matching obligation Any additional provisions require a separate agreement between the player and the matching club.
By the numbers: The club holding the player's rights has seven days to decide whether to match.
What to watch: Watch whether future offer sheets use delayed trade protection that begins when unrestricted-free-agent eligibility arrives.