The New CBA and junior-aged players

[Sam I Am]

Anybody know how many NHL games junior-aged player can have before it counts as a year of service with regard the age of his eventual free agency?

Click to read more...

 

[Belgican]

I think you have to play 41 games.

 

[kdb209]

We don't know for certain - release the damn CBA will you - but assuming the terms are similar to the old expired CBA, an "Accrued Season" is 40 or more games. Both the old CBA and new CBA FAQ used the same term "Accrued Seasons" in defining UFA eligibility, so it is very likely that the same criteria applies.

The other significant threshold is 10 games. Again, this is from the old CBA, but very likely still applies. An 18 or 19 yo player who plays less than 10 NHL games in a season has his ELS contract automatically extended for a year. Similarly, 10 games is the threshold for earning a year of professional experience for arbitration eligibility. So, if an 18 or 19 yo player plays 10 or more games, his ELS contract ages and he becomes an RFA earlier, and he eligible for arbitration one year sooner.