However, the vast majority of players come from North America and Europe. North America: There are two main sources of draft eligible players – Canadian major junior hockey and NCAA hockey.

All WHL players get paid a monthly salary based on their age. They also receive free room, board and other necessity of life perks from the team or their billets. Some teams also supply their players with gifts and other things depending on the teams financial success or owners financial situation.

There are players every year that make NHL teams on a tryout, for instance. A player that I played with went to the Boston Bruins camp on a tryout and made the team. He played 7 games that year and put himself in a position to stick with the club the following season. It can and does happen!

The OHL is a little more lenient on players as far as defensive play, but in the WHL, you’re not going to last if you can’t play in both ends of the ice. In terms of development, I think the WHL gives you a better chance to round out your game, rather than grow only in one or two specific areas.

A player can refuse to play for the team that drafts him. In that case, the team will most likely squat on the rights to sign that player, to see if they get a good offer from another team. If the player is a late-round pick or a borderline player, then the team would probably just cut him.

If the player rejects a qualifying offer, he remains a restricted free agent. If the player does not sign before December 1, he is ineligible to play in the NHL for the remainder of the season.

The Kraken will select one player from 30 different NHL teams. The Golden Knights were exempt from the expansion draft thanks to a reported agreement between ownership and the league, struck when the Knights came into the NHL prior to the 2017-18 season.

The Kraken must have at least 14 forwards, nine defensemen and three goalies. They must choose at least 20 players currently under contract.