2020 ECHL Protected Lists

[210]

ECHL announces Protected Lists

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[royals119]

These lists are less and less significant every year. A number of teams have 20 or less players on the protected list, so the season ending roster in two weeks will just be the same names. Teams with over 20 players likely have a few names on there who are not going to return (retired players, players who they protected before last season who are over-seas or in the AHL, etc). If they really want to bring back all 23, or whatever, they just need to sign a few of them to contracts before the next list, and then list the other 20. They don't have to announce the contracts they sign until October, so no one in the public really knows who is signed anyway. This list is really more of an internal record-keeping process between the teams and the league office at this point. Not sure why they bother to release them.

 

[210]

Not sure why they bother to release them.

I cannot agree more...

 

[Cyclones Rock]

I used to know the rules on this but I've forgotten.

The Cyclones list is nothing more than the non-affiliated free agents who were on the roster and reserve lists at the end of the season. As far as I know, all these guys are free to sign elsewhere.

 

[210]

I used to know the rules on this but I've forgotten.

The Cyclones list is nothing more than the non-affiliated free agents who were on the roster and reserve lists at the end of the season. As far as I know, all these guys are free to sign elsewhere.

Only players on the Protected List can be on the Season-Ending Roster, but in general, it has no other meaning. From that Season-Ending Roster, teams can send out qualifying offers to players (eight max, I think).

 

[royals119]

This list is all players who Signed an SPC in 2019-20 not traded or released, received a Qualifying Offer last summer, never signed and weren't released. (players who subsequently were suspended, signed in a higher league, or retired can still be listed)

This is the list they use to complete any future considerations trades (they can trade rights to these players).

The next list is limited to 20, and can't include any players who didn't sign a contract last season (meaning those who had a qualifying offer last summer but didn't sign, and retired/suspended players from the previous season aren't included on that list).

Teams can sign players they hold right to at any time during this process. As 210 said, after the season ending roster is the qualifying offer period where they can make an offer to up to 8 players that they haven't already signed and they keep those rights for up to the entire next season, even if they don't sign (but vets rights are only held until mid August). So essentially non-vets who get a qualifying offer are "restricted free agents".

 

[JMCx4]

So, @royals119: Does the first part of your most recent post supersede your previous: "These lists are less and less significant every year" statement?

 

[210]

So, @royals119: Does the first part of your most recent post supersede your previous: "These lists are less and less significant every year" statement?

No, he listed what it actually is, not its value as a list.

 

[royals119]

So, @royals119: Does the first part of your most recent post supersede your previous: "These lists are less and less significant every year" statement?

No. As I said, more of an internal record keeping for the teams. Basically the coaches can look at those lists to complete their future considerations trades, and the league has two weeks to verify that everyone's lists are correct before the qualifying offers are issued. I would guess, although I have no evidence, that maybe the players or the union, can look over the list and dispute anything they feel isn't right. Obviously as a non-vet player, getting a qualifying offer is somewhat significant, as that is pretty much "take it or leave it" if you want to play in the ECHL next year, so if I were a player I'd want to make sure.

10 years ago teams the rules were different and teams had more players on ECHL deals, so they had to decide who to protect and who to let go. Fans would dissect these lists to try to figure out why a particular player was left off (did they sign him already and therefore don't need to protect him, is he retiring, will he go to Europe, is the coach an idiot and not see how important he is?) At this point there really isn't anything to be learned from the list, except maybe a reminder that these players were on your team the past season.

 

[tarheelhockey]

No. As I said, more of an internal record keeping for the teams. Basically the coaches can look at those lists to complete their future considerations trades, and the league has two weeks to verify that everyone's lists are correct before the qualifying offers are issued. I would guess, although I have no evidence, that maybe the players or the union, can look over the list and dispute anything they feel isn't right. Obviously as a non-vet player, getting a qualifying offer is somewhat significant, as that is pretty much "take it or leave it" if you want to play in the ECHL next year, so if I were a player I'd want to make sure.

10 years ago teams the rules were different and teams had more players on ECHL deals, so they had to decide who to protect and who to let go. Fans would dissect these lists to try to figure out why a particular player was left off (did they sign him already and therefore don't need to protect him, is he retiring, will he go to Europe, is the coach an idiot and not see how important he is?) At this point there really isn't anything to be learned from the list, except maybe a reminder that these players were on your team the past season.

Could it also have a function in preventing an independent league from challenging the ECHL?

Presumably, this list forms a legal basis for denying the players any right to sign contracts with an independent league. That shuts potential competitors out of most of the AA-level talent pool, which in turn keeps the ECHL out of salary escalations and territorial battles. Releasing it publicly serves as a documentable “hands off” to any competitor who would tamper with these players.

From the perspective of a league commissioner, a tight grip on the labor and consumer market is existentially necessary to the business model... the record-keeping aspect is a second consideration.

 

[jabberoski]

Could it also have a function in preventing an independent league from challenging the ECHL?

Presumably, this list forms a legal basis for denying the players any right to sign contracts with an independent league. That shuts potential competitors out of most of the AA-level talent pool, which in turn keeps the ECHL out of salary escalations and territorial battles. Releasing it publicly serves as a documentable “hands off” to any competitor who would tamper with these players.

From the perspective of a league commissioner, a tight grip on the labor and consumer market is existentially necessary to the business model... the record-keeping aspect is a second consideration.

No

 

[tarheelhockey]

No

Thanks for the thoughtful answer.

 

[210]

Thanks for the thoughtful answer.

It is likely the correct answer though. ECHL players can sign a contract for any league at any time. The Protected List, Season-Ending Roster, and qualifying offers just limit player movement within the ECHL itself. If you wanted to start an AA-level rival league ECHL paperwork would be meaningless in your league.

 

[royals119]

I don't think the league can prevent players from signing elsewhere if they choose. They can control movement between teams, but if one of these players wants to go to Europe, or another North American league they ECHL has no basis to stop them.