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WAIVERS FAQ

Last Updated: Jun. 15, 2023
  • When a player is reassigned from the NHL to the AHL, they must pass through waivers (unless exempt). Waivers allow any of the other teams to claim the rights of the player.
  • In the previous CBA, waivers were required when a player was recalled to the NHL (Re-entry waivers), these no longer exist under the 2012 CBA.
  • Age is defined by the following CBA 13.4:
    • If a player turns 18 between January 1 and September 15 in the entry-draft calendar year preceding the first season of the players entry-level contract, they are considered 18
    • If a player turns 19 before December 31 in the entry-draft calendar year preceding the first season of the players entry-level contract, they are considered 19
    • If a player turns 20 before December 31 in the entry-draft calendar year preceding the first season of the players entry-level contract, they are considered 20, and so on.
  • For players whom are 20 or older, the year in which they play their first Professional Game (e.g. NHL, AHL, ECHL, KHL, European Leagues) is the year which is considered their first year towards the waiver exemption; however, the player must be under an NHL contract.
  • The following table indicates when a player is no longer exempt from waivers.
    • For example, a skater who signs their entry-level contract at 18 will require waivers after playing 160 NHL games, or after 5 seasons (whichever comes first). CBA Reference 13.4
    • After the 2019-20 COVID shortened season, a pro-rated games played requirement was introduced for players identified as COVID Roster Freeze Players, these requirements can be displayed by toggling the "Covid" or Covid (2011)" buttons
    • Waivers requirements were pro-rated for all players aged 20 or older in 2020-21, and any 18 or 19 year old player who met the pro-rated 11 game threshold in 2019-20 or 2020-21
AgeYears from Signing NHL ContractNHL Games PlayedYears from Signing NHL ContractNHL Games Played
SkatersGoalies
185160150155145680767874
194160147154141580757873
203160143152135480747771
21380727268460555853
22370636759460555853
23360545751360545751
24260505646260505646
25+11
  • There is an exception for 18 and 19 year olds:
    • If an 18 or 19 year old skater plays 11 NHL games or more, the year exemption will reduce to 3, and the following two season will count against these 3 years regardless of games played.
    • If an 18 or 19 year old goalie plays 11 NHL games or more, the year exemption will reduce to 4, and the following three season will count against these 4 years regardless of games played.
    • In the 2012-13 lockout season, the 11 games were pro-rated for the 48 games played (7 games instead of 11). CBA Reference Exhibit 16 (15)
    • In the 2019-20 COVID shortened season, the 11 games were pro-rated for the 70/82 games played for COVID Roster Freeze Players (9 games instead of 11). 2020 CBA Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

Examples

  1. An 18 year old skater signs his first entry-level contract in July 2013 and plays 9 games at the NHL level per season. He is exempt from waivers as follows:
    SeasonWaivers Status
    2013-2014Exempt
    2014-2015Exempt
    2015-2016Exempt
    2016-2017Exempt
    2017-2018Exempt
    2018-2019Eligible
  2. An 18 year old skater signs his first entry-level contract in July 2013 and plays 11 games at the NHL level in the 2013-14 season. He is exempt from waivers as follows:
    SeasonWaivers Status
    2013-2014Exempt
    2014-2015Exempt
    2015-2016Exempt
    2016-2017Eligible
  3. An 18 year old skater signs his first entry-level contract in July 2013 and plays 11 games at the NHL level in the 2014-15 season. He is exempt from waivers as follows:
    SeasonWaivers Status
    2013-2014Exempt
    2014-2015Exempt
    2015-2016Exempt
    2016-2017Exempt
    2016-2017Eligible
  4. A 20 year old skater signs his first entry-level contract in July 2013 and plays in his 180th NHL game in the 2014-15 season. He is exempt from waivers as follows:
    SeasonWaivers Status
    2013-2014Exempt
    2014-2015Eligible (immediately upon playing 160 games)

Exemptions

  1. A player does not need to pass through waivers if the player has not been on the NHL active roster for a cumulative 30 days since last clearing waivers, OR has not played in 10 or more NHL games. CBA Reference 13.2(b) (Despite the CBA reference saying 30 days AND 10 games, the rule is actually 30 days OR 10 games)
  2. A player whom consented to a Conditioning Loan can be Loaned to a minor league club for a maximum of 14 days without passing through waivers. CBA Reference 13.8
  3. A player whom was previously on long-term injured reserve (LTIR), may be loaned to a minor league club for a maximum of 6 days or 3 games for the purpose of determining if the player is fit to play. This player does not need to pass through waivers. CBA Reference 13.9