What happened: Article 10.3 limits an offer sheet’s principal terms to contract length, salary and signing or reporting bonuses. A matching contract must reproduce those principal terms.
Why it matters: The rule preserves the incumbent club’s right of first refusal without binding it to non-compensation restrictions. If the club declines to match, the new club signs the player and owes draft-pick compensation.
By the numbers: The incumbent club has seven days to match. A club that matches cannot trade the player for one year.
What to watch: Future offer sheets will hinge on term and cash structure rather than trade protection.