Pals, one of the most frustrating things with the old collective bargaining agreement between the National Hockey League and its players was that the rules governing how long a team holds a players rights after they were drafted was very, very complex.

In the 2013 CBA, which was largely in force until recently, the portion governing the exclusivity of drafted players – “8.6.: Reserve List – Exclusive Rights” took up four and a half pages. In the new CBA, which fully comes into effect on Sept. 15, they’re half a page.

The 2026 NHL Draft was the first draft with the simpler rules:

Drafted as an 18-year-old (e.g., first year of eligibility)? The team holds your rights until June 1, four years after your selection OR, if you go to college, 30 days after you leave college, whichever is later.
Drafted past your first year of eligibility? The team holds your rights until June 1, three years after your selection OR, if you go to college, 30 days after you leave college, whichever is later.

The Flames prospect cohort contains many prospects, some of which were drafted under the older, complicated rights scheme, and some under the new rules in 2026. Here’s a quick rundown of how things stand, sorted by the latest the Flames would have to sign each prospect.

Aug. 15, 2028

2022 pick Cade Littler, drafted out of junior and then moved to college for his Draft+3 season, has to be signed by June 1, 2026 (the fourth June 1 following his selection) or the August 15 following his graduation/exit from college, whichever is later. Currently entering his junior year, if he stays the full four seasons the Flames hold his rights until Aug. 15, 2028.

2024 pick Trevor Hoskin, drafted out of junior and then moved to college for his Draft+1 season, has to be signed by June 1, 2028 (the fourth June 1 following his selection) or the August 15 following his graduation/exit from college, whichever is later. If he stays all four years the Flames hold his rights until Aug. 15, 2028.

2025 pick Cullen Potter, drafted out of college, has to be signed by the August 15 following his graduation from college or, if he leaves prior to graduation, the later of June 1, 2029 (the fourth June 1 following his selection) or the August 15 following his exit from college. If he stays all four years the Flames hold his rights until Aug. 15, 2028, which we’re defaulting to.

June 1, 2029

2025 pick Jakob Leander, drafted out of Sweden, has to be signed by the fourth June 1 following his selection. Moving to the Western Hockey League’s Calgary Hitmen for 2026-27 does not change how long the Flames have to sign him.

Aug. 15, 2029

2023 pick Jaden Lipinski, drafted out of junior and then moved to college for his Draft+3 season, has to be signed by June 1, 2027 (the fourth June 1 following his selection) or the August 15 following his graduation/exit from college, whichever is later. If he stays all four years the Flames hold his rights until Aug. 15, 2029.

2024 picks Henry Mews, Luke Misa and Eric Jamieson, drafted out of junior and then moved to college for their Draft+2 seasons, all have to be signed by June 1, 2028 (the fourth June 1 following their selection) or the August 15 following their graduation/exit from college, whichever is later. If they stay all four years the Flames hold their rights until Aug. 15, 2029.

2025 picks Cole Reschny, Ethan Wyttenbach and Aidan Lane, drafted out of junior and then moved to college for their Draft+1 seasons, all have to be signed by June 1, 2029 (the fourth June 1 following their selection) or the August 15 following their graduation/exit from college, whichever is later. If they stay all four years the Flames hold their rights until Aug. 15, 2029.

June 1, 2030

2026 picks Chase Harrington, Alan Shaikhlislamov, Joe Iginla and Simon Katolicky, drafted as 18-year-olds and not going to college, have to be signed by June 1, 2030 (the fourth June 1 following their selection).

June 1, 2030

2026 picks Carson Carels, Jack Hextall and Tobias Trejbal, drafted as 18-year-olds and committed to college for their Draft+1 seasons, all have to be signed by June 1, 2030 (the fourth June 1 following their selection) or 30 days following their graduation/exit from college, whichever is later. We’re estimating them to be essentially the same date.

2026 pick Egor Barabanov, drafted in his second year of eligibility and moving to college for his Draft+1 season, has to be signed by June 1, 2029 (the third June 1 following his selection) or 30 days following his graduation/exit from college, whichever is later. If he stays all four years the Flames hold his rights until around June 1, 2030.

June 1, 2031

2026 pick Bode Laylin, drafted as an 18-year-old and committed to college for his Draft+2 season, has to be signed by June 1, 2030 (the fourth June 1 following his selection) or 30 days following his graduation from college, whichever is later. If he stays all four years the Flames hold his rights until around June 1, 2031.

Aug. 15, 2031

2025 pick Mace’o Phillips, drafted out of junior and committed to go to college for his Draft+3 season, has to be signed by June 1, 2029 (the fourth June 1 following his selection) or the August 15 following his graduation/exit from college, whichever is later. If he stays all four years the Flames hold his rights until Aug. 15, 2031.

Indefinite

2020 pick Daniil Chechelev, 2023 pick Yegor Yegorov and 2025 pick Yan Matveiko were selected from Russia and in the absence of a valid IIHF transfer agreement with Russia. Because they were selected during a period where Russian player rights were undefined, the Flames hold their rights indefinitely. Yegorov moving to college in 2026-27 does not alter the indefinite signing window for the Flames.

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