210
Registered User
Ah, but they can.
A number of ECHL teams put guys on NHL or AHL deals on their season-ending roster. They then retain their rights.
If those rights aren't with the NHL/AHL's affiliate, there's often a trade of rights to the affiliate so the following season if assigned to ECHL, he's with the affiliate.
(Haven't confirmed in this case. Just saying. )
I would be very interested in any proof you could show of this, because according to the ECHL CBA I can't see any way that a player under an NHL (or AHL) contract could be on player rights list:
(SOURCE)
A team shall only be entitled to reserve Rights to a maximum of eight (8) Qualified Players. Of these eight (8) Qualified Players, no more than four (4) of the Qualified Players shall be Veterans. “Qualified Player†shall mean a Player who is listed on a team’s Season Ending Roster who has received a Qualifying Offer from that team. A “Qualifying Offer†shall mean an offer of a Standard Player Contract to a Qualified Player.
I went to the Alaska Aces webpage (because I think they're one of the best in the ECHL for updating it) and found THIS PAGE that includes the following information:
The Alaska Aces, three-time Kelly Cup champions, today announced its 2013-14 Season Ending Roster of 20 players. The Season Ending Roster offers a list of eligible players to receive a qualifying offer no later than July 1.
Season-Ending Rosters may include up to 20 players. Season-Ending Rosters cannot include any players who did not sign an ECHL contract in 2013-14.
There's also some more info at the bottom of the page I'm not going to bother to copy and paste.
So I can't see how a player that's never signed an ECHL contract can have his player rights held by anyone.