<P> In addition, any player at least 22 years of age who has not been selected in the NHL Draft can sign with any team as a free agent . </P> <P> Any player who is not entry - level, but does not meet the qualifications of unrestricted free agency becomes a restricted free agent when his contract expires . </P> <P> The economics of free agency are disadvantageous for team owners; it can lead to bidding wars--and increased player salaries mean decreased owner profits . Restrictions on free agency have therefore been preferred by North American team owners since the abolition of the reserve clause . For example, a draft can be used to keep young and talented players from generating bidding wars and causing higher player salaries throughout the league . Furthermore, some teams which play in large market cities, and hence have a larger revenue stream, would be able to outbid other teams for talented players . Some leagues, such as the National Football League and the National Basketball Association have imposed salary cap rules in order to avert such bidding wars (the NFL itself was created in an effort to prevent bidding wars that had crippled preceding regional leagues like the Ohio League and Pittsburgh circuit). </P> <P> In Europe, the wages of the top players have increased dramatically since the Bosman ruling, although this is partly because of increased television revenues . As in North America, the number of transfers involving a fee are on the decline since clubs can wait for players to finish their contracts and become unrestricted . Also in Major League Baseball the larger and more successful teams often trump the lesser income teams from lack of a salary cap . </P>

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