The recent CBA revision permits NHL teams to assign one 19-year-old CHL player to the AHL each season, beginning in 2026-27. Previously, players could only be reassigned after turning 20 or completing four seasons in the CHL. This change addresses the barrier preventing elite junior players from advancing to professional ranks prematurely. An example is Capitals prospect Andrew Cristall, who excelled in WHL but could not join the AHL due to existing rules, potentially benefiting from the new provision.
According to hockey insider Frank Seravalli, each NHL team will be permitted to place one 19-year-old CHL player in the AHL per season starting during the 2026-27 campaign.
The agreement stipulates that prospects drafted from either the OHL, WHL, or QMJHL cannot be reassigned to the AHL or ECHL until they have either turned 20 years old or completed four seasons in the CHL.
The new provision would have benefited Capitals prospect Andrew Cristall had it been in effect during the 2024-25 season.
Cristall, despite being one of the final cuts from Washington's training camp, dominated competition with 173 points over 76 combined regular-season and playoff games.
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