Can a high profile prospect refuse to play for the team that drafted them?

[Captain97]

So essentially a player is owned by a team until he’s 27 unless they trade his rights?

No it's until they become UFA's which can occurr as early as 22 (maybe 21) if they go the NCAA route.

 

[Captain97]

Didn't Adam Fox do this until he was finally traded to New York ? Drafted by Calgary, shafted them, then traded to Carolina, shafted them, then finally traded to his choice destination and signed.

NCAA route, he forced his way by becoming a UFA via the NCAA

 

[Chainshot]

Lol I can tell you're fun to be with at parties.

If you're there, sure. Your comedy stylings are stellar.

 

[Chips]

NCAA route, he forced his way by becoming a UFA via the NCAA

Technically he didn’t become UFA (didn’t he have a year left?), but he would have.

 

[CycloneSweep]

Im sure McDavid wished he did.

 

[Chainshot]

Bit off topic. I have always wondered why no one has ever brought the Draft System in American sports to the Supreme Court. No way in hell the system would survive that. It breaches so many Individual rights.

Ken Linseman did challenge WHA and NHL rules as a right-to-work case and that's why the draft is now 18 instead of 20:

Draft Age In Hockey Challenged (Published 1977)

 

[McRpro]

Bit off topic. I have always wondered why no one has ever brought the Draft System in American sports to the Supreme Court. No way in hell the system would survive that. It breaches so many Individual rights.

The draft and how it works is part of the CBA which both sides have agreed to abide by.

 

[Captain97]

Technically he didn’t become UFA (didn’t he have a year left?), but he would have.

I don't remember but he essentially refused to sign with anyone but the Rangers and was planning in using the NCAA loophole to become an UFA at 22 to force the trade.

 

[Chips]

The draft and how it works is part of the CBA which both sides have agreed to abide by.

Past players, not players entering the draft any given year U18 players have no representation

 

[lawrence]

2 decades ago Jarrett stoll (although not a high profile prospect) refused to sign with Calgary re entered the draft and went to Edmonton. Lol.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

CHLers could definitely wait 2 years if they didn't like the team who drafted them. But it would be reckless financially for them to turn down an ELC (and said bonus money), especially if they're a fringe prospect who might never get ELC interest from other teams. Additionally, (Canadian) hockey culture generally fosters the idea that if you turn down the team who drafted you, you come across as an ungrateful POS.

European Pro (excluding KHL) players could wait out the 4 years or however long the rights holding period they're under (which depends on the league they play in), and sign with whomever, but generally speaking, Europeans don't care who they start their NHL career with so long as they're in the NHL: most of them don't want to spend much time in the A due to the lower salaries than back home.

I would imagine that (prior to the draft) several draft eligible prospects tell certain teams directly or through their agent/advisor that they would prefer not to be drafted by them, ex: Michkov telling the Coyotes "no". Wouldn't be surprised if others have told the Coyotes "no" due to the arena situation and franchise instability. Possible that certain players (most likely guys from the States) who have told Canadian teams that they wouldn't be interested in playing for them.

 

[Beukeboom Fan]

A drafted player can refuse to report but the team
That drafted him will hold his rights until he’s about 26-27 years old.


Team can trade him but it’s on the teams terms.

If a player drafted out of a Canadian junior league isn't signed - doesn't he re-enter the draft two years later?

To the OP's question - he doesn't HAVE to sign with the team that drafted him, but typically there are some pretty significant economic penalties if he doesn't.

 

[GirardSpinorama]

Bit off topic. I have always wondered why no one has ever brought the Draft System in American sports to the Supreme Court. No way in hell the system would survive that. It breaches so many Individual rights.

Huge public backlash to waste the supreme court's time on some of the most well off folks in the world.

 

[Chainshot]

Huge public backlash to waste the supreme court's time on some of the most well off folks in the world.

It did go to court and that's why the draft age is 18 - it was a right to work case.

Ken Linseman challenged the pro draft age

 

[mr figgles]

Bit off topic. I have always wondered why no one has ever brought the Draft System in American sports to the Supreme Court. No way in hell the system would survive that. It breaches so many Individual rights.

This Supreme court siding with labor?

 

[Golden_Jet]

No it's until they become UFA's which can occurr as early as 22 (maybe 21) if they go the NCAA route.

Actually no, teams have player control for 7 years.

 

[GirardSpinorama]

It did go to court and that's why the draft age is 18 - it was a right to work case.

Ken Linseman challenged the pro draft age

Did it go all the way up to the supreme court and waste that much judicial resources?

 

[Chainshot]

Did it go all the way up to the supreme court and waste that much judicial resources?

I doubt it would be heard on appeal and would have to go through various levels to get all the way up there. Something more compelling than someone complaining about 18-year olds or draft order would have to be at the heart of it.

 

[Breakers]

You're classified as the same thing whether you enter college right after the draft or are currently in college according to the CBA
If you're in the NCAA at the draft the team technically has your right for 3 years.

You can get there quick assuming you have your sights set on one single team to go through the process

so No, they don't player control for 7 years. You havent signed your name to a contract, right processes without a contract are different.

 

[GrumpyKoala]

I though we where done discussing Lafreniere.

 

[GhostfaceWu]

So op is cutter and he was just exhausting all options.

 

[Givememoneyback]

Yes, they can.

 

[WarriorofTime]

If a player drafted out of a Canadian junior league isn't signed - doesn't he re-enter the draft two years later?

To the OP's question - he doesn't HAVE to sign with the team that drafted him, but typically there are some pretty significant economic penalties if he doesn't.

If he gets drafted at 17, they hold his rights for 2 years, if he doesn't sign, he goes back into the draft.

If he STILL doesn't sign after 2 years, he becomes a free agent. Issue he needs to find somewhere to play during that time, and would be taking a major risk by not signing an NHL deal at a time he runs out of junior eligibility. That's why it just doesn't make sense to ever do.

 

[Captain97]

Actually no, teams have player control for 7 years.

... not if they are in the NCAA. Players can become UFAs at 22 or sometimes 21.

It happens all the time. See Jimmy Vesey or why Adam Fox was traded for nothing to the Rangers and also why Cutter Gauthier was traded just recently.

 

[Givememoneyback]

If he gets drafted at 17, they hold his rights for 2 years, if he doesn't sign, he goes back into the draft.

If he STILL doesn't sign after 2 years, he becomes a free agent. Issue he needs to find somewhere to play during that time, and would be taking a major risk by not signing an NHL deal at a time he runs out of junior eligibility. That's why it just doesn't make sense to ever do.

With lesser picks, it makes some sense. Hyman, for example, refused to sign and made a career after. The Cats, I believe, got the McKegg era.