"Opting in" to the Draft

[Sideshow]

Several years ago, 18-year-old players had to file paperwork to officially "opt in" to be eligible for selection in the Entry Draft.

Can anyone confirm that nowadays, you can no longer "opt in" or choose not to "opt in" - basically, if you're 18, you can be selected without filing paperwork?

 

[CanadaBacon]

"Beginning with the 1980 Entry Draft and continuing today, all 18, 19 and 20-year old North American and non-North American born players have been eligible to be drafted. In addition, non-North American players aged 21-years or older are eligible for claim. From 1987 to 1991, the selection of 18 and 19-year-old players was restricted to the first three rounds of the draft, unless the player met qualifying criteria that dealt with hockey experience in major junior, U.S. college and high school or European hockey. Starting with the 1992 Draft, those players were available in all rounds. "

http://www.nhl.com/futures/drafthistory.html

 

[Sideshow]

Okay, by "several years ago" I meant like 2002 or 2003.

 

[Midnight]

The NHL entry draft now works on an "opt out" basis instead of "opt in". In other words, you're eligible by default to be drafted, and have to explicitly declare if you don't want to be considered. I believe this change was introduced by the current CBA.

 

[BigT2002]

The NHL entry draft now works on an "opt out" basis instead of "opt in". In other words, you're eligible by default to be drafted, and have to explicitly declare if you don't want to be considered. I believe this change was introduced by the current CBA.

who would do that though?!?!?

 

[Giroux tha Damaja]

who would do that though?!?!?

Ninjas. Nobody owns the rights to a ninja.

 

[Midnight]

who would do that though?!?!?

If you had a particularly poor season due to injuries / personal problems / team issues / etc, you may want to wait another year to hopefully secure a higher draft position (and thus a higher starting pro salary).

 

[STL fan in MN]

IIRC, the main issue with this used to be college players. At the time, the NCAA declared that players that got drafted would lose their college eligibility so the college players wouldn't "opt in" until they were ready to turn pro so a lot of the time, they were older than the other kids being drafted. I remember DiPietro had a tough time deciding whether to opt in or not back in 2000 after just one season at BU. Obviously, he ended up opting in and got drafted 1st overall.

I don't remember if the rules changed after the lockout or if it was a little before then that the NHL got the NCAA to agree to let players be drafted but then still be able to return to the college team.

 

[mouser]

The NHL entry draft now works on an "opt out" basis instead of "opt in". In other words, you're eligible by default to be drafted, and have to explicitly declare if you don't want to be considered. I believe this change was introduced by the current CBA.

There is no "opt out" provision in the current CBA. Any player who meets the eligibility criteria can be drafted.

 

[Wetcoaster]

There is no "opt out" provision in the current CBA. Any player who meets the eligibility criteria can be drafted.

Eligibility criteria from the CBA - no opt-in or opt-out:

8.4 Eligibility for Claim.

(a) All Players age 18 or older are eligible for claim in the Entry Draft,except:

(i) a Player on the Reserve List of a Club, other than as a try-out;

(ii) a Player who has been claimed in two prior Entry Drafts;

(iii) a Player who previously played in the League and became a Free Agent pursuant to this Agreement;

(iv) a Player age 21 or older who: (A) has not been selected in a previous Entry Draft and (B) played hockey for at least one season in North America when he was age 18, 19, or 20 and shall be eligible to enter the League as an Unrestricted Free Agent pursuant to Article 10.1(d); and

(v) a Player age 22 or older who has not been selected in a previous Entry Draft and shall be eligible to enter the League as an Unrestricted Free Agent pursuant to Article 10.1(d).​

And age criteria as used in the draft- note the change at age 20 and 21:

8.10 Age of Players.

As used in this Article, "age 18" means a Player reaching his eighteenth birthday between January 1 next preceding the Entry Draft and September 15 next following the Entry Draft, both dates included; "age 19" means a Player reaching his nineteenth birthday by no later than September 15 in the calendar year of the Entry Draft; "age 20" means a Player reaching his twentieth birthday by no later than December 31 in the calendar year of the Entry Draft; "age 21" means a Player reaching his twenty-first birthday by December 31 in the calendar year of the Entry Draft and "age 22" means a Player reaching his twenty-second birthday by December 31 in the calendar year of the Entry Draft.

 

[Sideshow]

Thank you Wetcoaster.

I read that clause in the CBA too with no mention of opting in or opting out.

Just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing another section pertaining to it somewhere in there.

 

[kdb209]

Thank you Wetcoaster.

I read that clause in the CBA too with no mention of opting in or opting out.

Just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing another section pertaining to it somewhere in there.

Correct. Under the current (2005) CBA there is no opting in (or out) of the draft.

Under the old (1995) CBA, all 19+ yos were eligible. 18 yos were only eligible if they opted in.

8.4. Eligibility for Claim.

(a) All players age 19 or older are eligible for claim in the Entry Draft, except:

(i) a player on the Reserve List of a Club, other than as a Try-Out;

(ii) a player who has been claimed in two prior Entry Drafts;

(iii) a player who previously played in the League and became a free agent pursuant to
this Agreement;


(iv) a player age 21 or older who played hockey for at least one season in North
America when he was age 18, 19 or 20.​

(b) In addition to the players referred to in sub-paragraph (a), any player who (i) will be
age 18 on or before September 15 in the year in which such Entry Draft is held, or (ii) reaches his 19th
birthday between September 16 and December 31, both dates included, next following the Entry Draft
and who in either case wishes to become eligible for selection in the Entry Draft, can attain eligibility by
delivering to the League a written notice in the form of Exhibit 3 hereto prior to the later of (A) May 1,
or (B) seven days following the date such player finishes competing on his team in the year in which such
draft is to be held.

 

[Midnight]

There is no "opt out" provision in the current CBA. Any player who meets the eligibility criteria can be drafted.

Thanks for the correction. Darn, it has been a while since I last read the CBA, hasn't it?

 

[CanadaBacon]

Correct. Under the current (2005) CBA there is no opting in (or out) of the draft.

Under the old (1995) CBA, all 19+ yos were eligible. 18 yos were only eligible if they opted in.

Doesnt that state 17 year olds would be eligable if they opted in as long as they turn 18 on or before sept 15 in the year in which such entry draft is held?

I have had a few beers so....

 

[kdb209]

Doesnt that state 17 year olds would be eligable if they opted in as long as they turn 18 on or before sept 15 in the year in which such entry draft is held?

I have had a few beers so....

Yup. Just like 17 yo's who turn 18 by 9/15 are eligible under the current CBA - note the definition of "age" that Wettie posted above:

As used in this Article, "age 18" means a Player reaching his eighteenth birthday between January 1 next preceding the Entry Draft and September 15 next following the Entry Draft, both dates included;

 

[CanadaBacon]

Yup. Just like 17 yo's who turn 18 by 9/15 are eligible under the current CBA - note the definition of "age" that Wettie posted above:

Looking back a second time i get it. Thought i read 18 year old were fine, 17 year old had to file for eligibility.

 

[Saved*]

A friend of mine was injured all year off and on, and his stock plummeted. He opted out.. so yeah, you can opt out.

 

[Seachd]

A friend of mine was injured all year off and on, and his stock plummeted. He opted out.. so yeah, you can opt out.

When was this? Actually, as mentioned, even under the old CBA, players didn't "opt out". So I'm curious as to what your friend was told the process is, or what he did to "opt out", because it doesn't exist under the current CBA.

 

[Saved*]

When was this? Actually, as mentioned, even under the old CBA, players didn't "opt out". So I'm curious as to what your friend was told the process is, or what he did to "opt out", because it doesn't exist under the current CBA.

It was this year, so whatever provisions you're reading, I have no idea but what I do know is that he was not drafted and he told me he opted out. He could be lying to protect his ego.. and he knew it was a longshot to get drafted anyways, but just going by what he said.

 

[Wetcoaster]

It was this year, so whatever provisions you're reading, I have no idea but what I do know is that he was not drafted and he told me he opted out. He could be lying to protect his ego.. and he knew it was a longshot to get drafted anyways, but just going by what he said.

He is either lying or does not have clue what he is talking about - there are no opt-in or opt-out procedures since the current CBA came into effect.

See post #10 for the applicable wording in the CBA.

 

[hfboardsuser]

I recall Michael Connolly of the Kodiaks saying he opted out after breaking his leg- this is where I was confused about it at first.

 

[CanadaBacon]

He is either lying or does not have clue what he is talking about - there are no opt-in or opt-out procedures since the current CBA came into effect.

See post #10 for the applicable wording in the CBA.

Under the collective agreement, if a player refuses to sign with the NHL team that drafts him and does so for the next two years he becomes a free agent. I think this what he means by "opt out". Remember the Leafs tried to get Tavares to "opt out" of the draft and play for the Marlies for two seasons.

 

[MeowLeafs]

It was this year, so whatever provisions you're reading, I have no idea but what I do know is that he was not drafted and he told me he opted out. He could be lying to protect his ego.. and he knew it was a longshot to get drafted anyways, but just going by what he said.

lol, he was probably lying and just trying to sound all great. I bet he never even had a chance...

 

[Wetcoaster]

Under the collective agreement, if a player refuses to sign with the NHL team that drafts him and does so for the next two years he becomes a free agent. I think this what he means by "opt out". Remember the Leafs tried to get Tavares to "opt out" of the draft and play for the Marlies for two seasons.

Not according to what he posted.

Besides the player if drafted out of junior would go back in the draft in 99% of the cases if he did not sign.

Tavares could not opt out of the draft and Leafs would know that.

 

[CanadaBacon]

Not according to what he posted.

Besides the player if drafted out of junior would go back in the draft in 99% of the cases if he did not sign.

Tavares could not opt out of the draft and Leafs would know that.

In 09 he would be drafted, but not sign with said team, he would opt out of all following drafts till 2011 when he would be a free agent or the draft team trades his rights. <------ This was the Leafs plan

You do know that a player doesnt have to go back into the draft. He just has to not sign his eligibilty papers for two years and if he decides to not sign a pro contract after two years he is a free agent or his drafted team trades his rights to a team of his choosing. (ala Lindros)

Hence why JFJ offered Tavares a three year deal with the Marlies, so when he was drafted, the draft team would have to trade his rights to the Leafs or the Leafs would wait till 2011 and sign Tavares as a free agent.