Biz, I don’t subscribe to the argument that just because a player signs a contract or extension they should be held to it. Everything depends on the circumstances. If you’re a young kid in your second year, maybe on the fringes of the team, and a two year extension is offered, are you really going to turn it down? Even if you’re homesick, you might not be sure how you’ll feel in a couple of years because very few 19 year olds do! Turning it down means turning down a guaranteed salary for years, and the perception you’re letting your teammates and club down. It’s a lot of pressure.
If a kid signs under those circumstances, and then a year down the track in different circumstances changes his mind, I think clubs have a moral obligation to explore it. A longer trade period means slightly better prospects of a trade being found. To answer your specific question, I don’t know how many times it has played out, because I only know what is made public; but we are seeing more examples of clubs and players reaching an understanding that players under contract can explore their options – like Darcy Tucker this year – and I think having a longer period can only help.