Every year, most NHL teams will see at least one prospect vanish from their reserve list on June 1. That’s the date stipulated by the league’s transfer agreements with the Canadian Hockey League and European leagues, not including the Kontinental Hockey League or the Swiss National League, that prospects drafted from those leagues will become free agents if not signed. For CHL players, that date is two years after they’re drafted, at which point they can re-enter the draft or declare free agency. For European players, it’s four years after their draft date.
A few teams have been busy removing players from this list over the past two weeks. As of March 1, players are now eligible to sign entry-level contracts that don’t begin until the 2025-26 campaign. As such, most players listed here are likelier than not to lose their affiliation with their draft team.
That means this year, CHL players selected in the 2023 draft will hit free agency and can declare for the 2025 draft if not signed by July 1. Meanwhile, unsigned players still in European professional leagues who were initially eligible for the 2021 draft will see their exclusive signing rights expire. Here’s the full list of those affected players, with some help from PuckPedia:
Anaheim Ducks
D Vojtech Port (2023, 6-161)
D Konnor Smith (2023, 4-97)
F Carey Terrance (2023, 2-59)
Boston Bruins
D Jonathan Myrenberg (2021, 5-140)
Buffalo Sabres
F Viljami Marjala (2021, 5-159)
F Ethan Miedema (2023, 4-109)
F William von Barnekow (2021, 6-161)
Calgary Flames
F Jaden Lipinski (2023, 4-112)
Carolina Hurricanes
G Patrik Hamrla (2021, 3-83)
G Nikita Quapp (2021, 6-187)
Chicago Blackhawks
F Marcel Marcel (2023, 5-131)
F Milton Oscarson (2023, 6-167)
F Alex Pharand (2023, 4-99)
F Victor Stjernborg (2021, 4-108)
Colorado Avalanche
F Maros Jedlicka (2023, 7-219)
Columbus Blue Jackets
F Tyler Peddle (2023, 7-224)
F Martin Rysavy (2021, 7-197)
Dallas Stars
F Brad Gardiner (2023, 3-79)
F Albert Sjöberg (2021, 7-207)
G Arno Tiefensee (2023, 5-157)
Detroit Red Wings
F Liam Dower-Nilsson (2021, 5-134)
Edmonton Oilers
G Nathaniel Day (2023, 6-184)
Florida Panthers
D Luke Coughlin (2023, 6-191)
F Jakub Kos (2021, 6-184)
Los Angeles Kings
D Matthew Mania (2023, 5-150)
Minnesota Wild
D Kalem Parker (2023, 6-181)
Montreal Canadiens
G Quentin Miller (2023, 4-128)
G Joe Vrbetic (2021, 7-214)
Nashville Predators
G Juha Jatkola (2023, 4-121)
D Dylan MacKinnon (2023, 3-83)
D Anton Olsson (2021, 3-72)
New Jersey Devils
F Cole Brown (2023, 6-164)
New York Islanders
F Justin Gill (2023, 5-145)
F Aleksi Malinen (2021, 6-189)
New York Rangers
none
Ottawa Senators
F Oliver Johansson (2021, 3-74)
Philadelphia Flyers
D Matteo Mann (2023, 7-199)
D Carter Sotheran (2023, 5-135)
D Brian Zanetti (2021, 4-110)
Pittsburgh Penguins
F Cooper Foster (2023, 6-174)
San Jose Sharks
F Theo Jacobsson (2021, 6-177)
Seattle Kraken
D Kaden Hammell (2023, 5-148)
F Andrei Loshko (2023, 4-116)
St. Louis Blues
D Matthew Mayich (2023, 6-170)
Tampa Bay Lightning
F Ethan Hay (2023, 7-211)
Toronto Maple Leafs
none
Utah Hockey Club
D Justin Kipkie (2023, 5-160)
G Rasmus Korhonen (2021, 4-122)
Vancouver Canucks
F Lucas Forsell (2021, 7-201)
D Hugo Gabrielson (2021, 6-169)
Vegas Golden Knights
D Artur Cholach (2021, 6-190)
Washington Capitals
F Håkon Hänelt (2021, 5-151)
F Brett Hyland (2023, 7-200)
F Patrick Thomas (2023, 4-104)
Winnipeg Jets
F Connor Levis (2023, 7-210)
You erred by linking Matthew Mania to Jakub Kos’ profile. Just letting you know.
Fixed
How is Marcel Marcel playing in the AHL if he isn’t signed to Chicago?
The big standout to me on this list is Loshko for Seattle. Ive only seen him play a couple games for Niagara but he was pretty noticeable most of his shifts. I’d hate to lose him for nothing if I were the Kraken
He’s signed to an AHL contract with Rockford, but hasn’t yet inked his ELC with Chicago. His eligibility is unusual. He was drafted out of the QMJHL, yes, but it was his only season in the league and it was his overage campaign. He was first eligible for selection in the 2022 draft. Because of that, 2023-24 was his age-20 season and he was eligible to sign with and play for the Blackhawks’ AHL affiliate.
I think Tampa will give Ethan Hay an ELC when it’s all set & done. Tampa will surely have a number of new ELCs this offseason including Isaac Howard (arguably the top Hobey Baker Award contender) as well as Alex Gagne (whose also getting some Baker award attention), & quite possibly Connor Kurth (whose producing a point per game) but his signing rights are not up until 2026.
Both Gagne & Kyle Aucoin signing rights are up on August 15th for Tampa but this list isn’t for that period.
New Jersey draft pick Cole Brown committed to Notre Dame. Will he become a free agent, re-enter the draft, or will the expiration date on his rights reset?
Nobody knows! There may even be a secret fourth option!