It allowed the popular receiver to enter restricted free agency, but it also gave the Giants the right to match any offer he received.

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The lengths would buy out a year of unrestricted free agency from first-round picks and a year of restricted free agency from other draftees.

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Clowe, also acquired at the trade deadline, will be an unrestricted free agent, and young forwards Derek Stepan, Carl Hagelin, Mats Zuccarello, along with key defensemen Moore and Ryan McDonagh are heading into restricted free agency.

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