Quote:
Originally Posted by Vulcan
The way I understand it, they can declare that they are not returning to College in any year or wait for the 4 years and become a UFA on August 22nd of the year that they don't return to College. There may be more to it and I'd be glad if others could add to this understanding.
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That is not true. NHL teams retain the rights of a college player for the full 4 years of his athletic eligibility. It is only after the 4 years of athletic eligibility have expired that the player becomes a free agent. You get way more protection from an organizational viewpoint by drafting a college kid over a CHL kid. If they choose not to sign four years later they would become a free agent, the same way that Erixon would have entered the draft again if the Flames had not traded him. But a college kid can never decide to become a free agent any earlier than the 4th June 1st following his draft year. For instance, the Flames have Gaudreau's rights until June 1, 2015. Nothing can change that under the current CBA.