NHL waiver exemption rules play a vital role in determining when players must go through waivers before being reassigned to the minors. These rules, largely based on age and professional experience, are complex but essential for understanding team roster management and player movement. Here’s a closer look at the intricacies of waiver exemption.
Waiver exemptions depend on two factors: a player’s age when they signed their first NHL contract and their professional experience in terms of seasons and NHL games played. These exemptions are designed to give young and developing players stability early in their careers and prevent teams from losing talent prematurely.
The following table outlines waiver exemption periods for skaters (forwards and defensemen) and goaltenders based on the age at which they signed their first contract. For skaters and goaltenders, the exemption period is the lesser of the seasons under contract or the games played.
| Age at Signing | Skaters (Years or Games) | Goaltenders (Years or Games) |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | 5 years or 160 games | 6 years or 80 games |
| 19 | 4 years or 160 games | 5 years or 80 games |
| 20 | 3 years or 160 games | 4 years or 80 games |
| 21 | 3 years or 80 games | 4 years or 60 games |
| 22 | 3 years or 70 games | 4 years or 60 games |
| 23 | 2 years or 60 games | 3 years or 60 games |
| 24+ | 1 year or 60 games | 2 years or 30 games |
The term "games played" refers specifically to NHL regular season games, not AHL or other minor league games. Once a player meets the threshold for games played in the NHL, they lose their waiver exemption.
If a player meets their season-based exemption threshold before reaching the games-played threshold, they still lose their exemption. For example, a 20-year-old skater with three seasons under contract but only 120 games played would still be required to go through waivers.
Waiver exemptions are designed to allow young players more development time without exposing them to waivers. Players who sign their first contract at a young age generally need more time to mature.
Waiver exemptions are distinct from entry-level contract terms. While most players on entry-level contracts are waiver-exempt, the end of an entry-level contract does not automatically mean the end of a waiver exemption.
Waiver exemption rules give NHL teams flexibility with younger players while ensuring that players with significant NHL experience are accessible to other teams when reassigned.
