Every year, the NHL Trade Deadline causes mass confusion. Not just for the league’s 32 clubs, but also fans trying to follow what’s happening with prospects at the AHL level.
We’ve detailed the situation (and rules) for years, including in detail as part of this article several years ago.
Essentially, here’s the deal. To make players eligible for the Calder Cup playoffs, they need to be on their club’s AHL roster by noon today (the NHL Trade Deadline). Because of this, every year, there used to be a series of ‘paper transactions’ where players on NHL rosters would be ‘sent down’ for a few hours and then recalled. This allowed them to be eligible for the AHL playoffs.
Today, look for this to happen with Kenny Connors and Jared Wright. Both can be sent down without waivers. So, they’ll be returned to the Reign today. In theory, they could then be recalled rather quickly — and Connors almost surely will. .
However, there’s another rule to consider, as well.
While it’s often talked about that NHL rosters can expand beyond the usual 23-player limit after the Trade Deadline, there is a little more context needed. Teams used to only be able to recall four players from the AHL after the deadline (excluding emergency recalls, that’s a whole other topic). Now, with some recent CBA adjustments, that number has increased to five.
There is also a new rule this season that eliminates paper transactions all together. Throughout the season, if a player is assigned from the NHL to the AHL, he must play at least one game in the minors before being recalled. This change occurred to prevent salary cap manipulation (i.e. savings by sending players down for a few days).
But, wait… that specific rule doesn’t apply today. Connors and Wright can go down, gain their AHL playoff eligibility, and then either (or both) can be recalled without having played a game for the Reign.
Why don’t the Kings send other players down to the AHL today, just in case they don’t make the Stanely Cup Playoffs, those guys would at least be eligible for AHL postseason action? Well, Connors and Wright happen to be the only two waiver exempt players (other than Brandt Clarke, and he’s not going down).
Clear as mud, right?
Follow @mayorsmanor
Note to webmasters/reporters: When recapping news or interviews from this site please remember to include a link to www.MayorsManor.com
Continue reading...