are you able to offer a contract extension that lowers the players existing salary...
example: i bid on FA bryzgalov and win with 50m bid... assuming i have the cap space, i sign the guy to 1yr deal at 50m, then extend him to 5yrs at 8million OR 4yrs at 6.4m (goalie extension ceiling) instead of 5yrs at 10m per.
Q: is this a contract loophole or just good cap management.