The Associated Press reports that players on AHL-only contracts will be allowed to play in the 2018 Winter Olympics. According to the report, the AHL sent a memo to all of its clubs articulating that players may be loaned to Olympic teams from February 5-26. The men’s ice hockey tourney runs from February 9-25.
What the memo doesn’t say, however, is whether players on NHL two-way contracts, or those players loaned to the AHL, will be eligible for the Olympics. Most signs point to no, however, as that would open up a loophole allowing teams to send its young, waiver-exempt players to the AHL for the purposes of playing in the Olympics. It would also be inconsistent with the league’s mandate that all players with NHL contracts are barred from the Olympics.
The AHL does not have a designated break during the two-week Olympic period, but the league is used to teams losing its best players as a matter of course. Players leaving for the Olympics is no different then players being recalled for two weeks. Unfortunately for national teams, however, the crop of AHL-only players may be only marginally better than those in the NCAA or Europe.
They should allow guys on 2 way deals who were in the minors before a certain date to go. Like maybe if they get sent down before New Year’s and don’t get recalled until the Olympics start that might make sense. Teams won’t send down guys that are actually useful because it doesn’t make sense to give them up for almost 2 months, and more guys still get to go without a major loophole.
I know a certain Russian player who will give a middle finger to the NHL and play for his country without question…..Hmmm I wonder if he plays in Washington….
There are going to be Russian players who test the NHL’s resolve on the rule. I can see multiple Russians saying that they are going. I can also see some players in the AHL on 2-way contracts going. It might be the only chance they ever have to play in an Olympics. The NHL should just allow them to go if they aren’t going to allow NHL players to go
Can a kind soul explain the two way deal for me? Trying to learn.
Basically like an option in baseball you can get sent down without having to be exposed to waivers
A two-way deal has to do with the salary. A player on a two-way deal makes a different salary in the AHL than he does in the NHL. If a player is on an one-way deal, he makes the same amount of money if he gets sent to the AHL as he would in the NHL. Players are both contracts can be sent to the AHL.
But it’s not just that a two way contract player isn’t exposed to waivers when they get sent down but a one way contract player is.
Just to clear this up.
A two-way contract has nothing to to with waiver eligibility. It only means that the player will earn different amounts in the NHL and AHL (there is also a minor league two-way deal, between the AHL and ECHL).
Waiver eligibility is determined by number of seasons and games played in the league. It has nothing to do with contract status, other than at what age you first entered the league.
Great stuff. Thanks everbody!
Learn something new every day thanks guys
Maybe they should just let all players choose if they want to represent their countries? Just saying….
Some teams, like the Washington Capitals, will allow players to go play in the Olympics. Other teams, like the Ottawa Senators, will not allow their stars to go due to the possibility of injury. The Sens’ GM sited Hasek’s season ending injury at the ’06 Olympics as why he wouldn’t let Erik Karlsson go this Olympics.