Quote:
Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef
It won't matter I don't think. An NCAA player usually can only sign a 1 or 2 year ELC depending on their age If Hanowski is eligible for a 2 year ELC right now I believe he would only be eligible for a 1 year if its signed July 4th or later. I am pretty sure that no matter how you slice it his ELC will end the same date no matter what.
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If I'm reading the CBA correctly (and I don't believe anything related to this changed in the new CBA), the length of a player's ELC is determined by his age as of September 15 in the calendar year in which he signed his first NHL contract.
If a player is between 18 and 21, his ELC is 3 years; if he's 22 or 23, it's 2 years; and if he's 24, it's 1 year. If a player is 25 or older (and not a "European" player, like Cervenka), he does not require an Entry-Level contract at all.
Hanowski's birthday is October 18, 1990, so he will be 22 on September 15. As such, he will be required to sign a two-year ELC.
I believe if he signs a contract immediately, and plays in Calgary this season, he will burn the first year of his ELC, and would be eligible for RFA status at the end of next season. Otherwise, next year will be the first year of his two-year ELC.
He could potentially hold-out until August 15 to reach UFA status, but that would be a gamble for a player who isn't a sure-fire NHLer.