Contracts and the squad

A squad has 22–36 players: 2–4 goalies, 7–12 defensemen and 13–20 forwards. You can't sell or release a player if it takes a position below its minimum, or sign one above the maximum.

Players are paid every week. When you sign or renew a player he quotes a weekly salary for every contract length from 1 to 5 seasons; there is no haggling. What he asks depends on his ratings, his position, his age and his recent game ratings. The longer the contract, the lower the weekly salary.

Contracts always end when a season ends.

A new contract can include a buyout clause, which makes the salary a little lower. In return any club can buy the player at the clause's price whenever it likes, and you can't refuse. The price is shown on the player's page.

You can release a player at any time. He becomes a free agent, and you pay the rest of his contract's salary.

In week 8 the players whose contracts end this season offer to sign again, with their quote. You have until week 11 starts to renew or let them go. A player you don't renew goes to a free-agent auction where any club can buy him.

If a position falls below its minimum, for example after contracts end, a junior aged 17–19 is promoted to the squad on a small salary so your team can always dress a lineup.