SPC = Standard players’ contract
PTO = Professional try-out contract
ATO = Amateur try-out contract
ELC = Entry level contract
AHL players not signed to one of these three contracts are on NHL contracts and assigned to their respective AHL clubs by their parent team.
A player on an AHL contract may participate in development camp, training camp, and preseason games. However, before joining an NHL regular season lineup a player on an AHL deal would first have to sign an NHL contract. A player on an AHL contract can be signed by any NHL club.
The 27-or-7 Rule – A player whose contract has expired can declare himself an unrestricted free agent if he is at least 27 years old or has at least seven years playing as an NHL player. This applies to one-time draft pick from Slovakia Peter Cehlarik who was on the Bruins reserve list until he turned 27 on August 2, 2022. Cehlarik became a free agent on June 30, 2023. Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson turns 27 on October 31, 2023. He will become a free agent on June 30, 2024.
NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement and Memo of Understanding
NHL/NHLPA CBA effective September 16, 2012 through September 15, 2020
NHL/NHLPA MOU extending existing CBA through September 15, 2026