Steve L said:
The clubs hold the rights for two drafts, not 2 years. As there cant be a draft without a CBA, the teams cannot lose their picks until a CBA is approved and a draft is held. Of course there are bound to be a few weeks to sign their players after the CBA comes into effect.
There is not a single thing right about that statement ..
The CBA is online at nhl.com (you could look it up .. it clealy says June 1st with no year on drafted players two years after being selected ..
http://www.nhlcbanews.com/cba/article8.html
8.6. Reserve List-Exclusive Rights
A player selected shall be registered on the Reserve List of the selecting Club as an "unsigned draft choice."
If, on or before June 1 of the calendar year next succeeding the draft, the claiming Club makes a Bona Fide Offer (as defined below) to its claimed player of a contract, the Club shall retain the exclusive right of negotiation for the services of such player up to and including the
second June 1 following the date of his selection.
A "Bona Fide Offer" is one which is for a period corresponding to the player's age as required under Section 9.1(b) commencing at the start of the next League Year, offers at least the NHL Minimum Compensation for each year covered by such offer and remains open to the player for at least thirty days after receipt of the offer by the player. A Bona Fide Offer may be conditioned upon acceptance by the player within thirty days and carries no right to salary arbitration.
Except as otherwise provided in this Section, a claimed player unsigned on June 2 next succeeding his draft shall be removed from the Reserve List of the Club that claimed him.