NHL extends agreements with European and junior leagues, lifts some restrictions

This just in, the NHL has officially announced a one year extension for its transfer agreements with European professional leagues and the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). This means that players playing in the OHL, QMJHL, WHL or leagues in Austria, Belarus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Norway, Slovakia, Sweden and the United Kingdom are now free to sign player contracts with NHL teams.

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This is obviously great news for teams looking to shore up their depth and put together rosters for the 2020-21 season. The Vancouver Canucks have been looking to add Swedish phenom Nils Hoglander to their official roster for months now. Today’s news makes that possible.

NCAA players are unaffected by this agreement as they cannot sign NHL contracts and maintain NCAA eligibility. The KHL has never had a transfer agreement with the NHL.

In any case, this is fantastic news for NHL teams and for the players sitting out there without a contract. This move should provide some security and certainty for both sides.