What is an Accrued Season?

An accrued season is defined as a season in which a player is on full pay status for at least six regular-season games. This metric is important in determining a player's service time in the league, which can impact various factors such as eligibility for free agency and contract negotiations. The requirement of having played in at least six games establishes a standard that ensures players have contributed meaningfully to their team's performance over the course of the season.

Other definitions do not meet the established criteria for an accrued season, which is what makes the correct answer valid. For instance, a season defined by fewer than six games played would not qualify, as it indicates insufficient participation for consideration of an accrued season. Similarly, stipulations that require a player to be on the roster for all games or offer a bonus per game played diverge from the standard definition, as they introduce unrelated conditions that do not reflect the essence of what constitutes an accrued season in the context of salary cap management and free agency eligibility.