Currently, players eligible for the draft must be at least 18 years old by September 15 of the draft year but not older than 20 by December 31. If a player is 19 years old on draft day, they are also eligible unless they were previously drafted and remain unsigned.
Friedman suggested that the NHL is considering a significant change to these rules.
Under the proposed rule, only 18-year-olds would be allowed to be selected in the first round. For rounds two through seven, teams would not be permitted to draft 18-year-olds.
If approved, this could be a major shift in how the NHL draft works. Fans will be watching closely to see if the NHL Players' Association (NHLPA) gives the green light to this potential change.
POLL | ||
17 SEPTEMBRE | 243 ANSWERS Big changes on the horizon for the NHL draft which will make a significant difference Should the NHL only allow 18-year-olds to be drafted in the first round? | ||
Yes | 101 | 41.6 % |
No | 142 | 58.4 % |
List of polls |