When a team takes a player in the NHL draft, they’re drafting the rights to that player. This means that the player can play college hockey, or stay with the team they currently play for. But, this also means the team has exclusive rights to the player and can do whatever they want with them i.e. trade the player, sign the player, or let their rights expire. If the rights expire, they can re-enter the draft or become a free agent.

Several things go into how long a player’s rights can last including, how old the player is, and where they were drafted in the draft. The important thing to remember is that the team must decide on what to do with the player at some point.

Generally, college players’ rights are kept until they finish their college careers. Major Junior players who play in Canada have a two-year window. European players who play in a league with a transfer agreement with the NHL have 4 years if they’re 18 or 19, and 2 years if they’re 20+ years of age. The KHL has no transfer agreement, so the rights last forever. Typically, KHL players must play out their entire contract before being allowed to come to North America.

Let’s take a look at who the Columbus Blue Jackets need to decide on in the next year.

Tyler Peddle – Age 19 – 2023 Draft Pick 224 – Must sign by June 1, 2025 – Peddle is playing for the Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL. The 2024-25 season will be his 4th season in Major Junior Hockey.

Aiden Hreschuk – Age 21 – 2021 Draft Pick 94 – Must sign by August 15, 2025. Hreschuk is going into his senior year at Boston College. He was originally drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes and traded to the CBJ in the Max Domi deal.

Guillaume Richard – Age 21 – 2021 Draft Pick 101 – Must sign by August 15, 2025. Richard is going into his senior year at Providence College.

Martin Ryšavý – Age 21 – 2021 Draft Pick 197 – Must sign by June 1, 2025. Ryšavý announced last week that he was leaving North America to play in Czechia for Bílí Tygři Liberec, a top team in the best league in his native country. After his rights expire next year, look for Ryšavý to try his hand at the NHL again in a year or two.

With new GM Don Waddell at the helm, anything goes in terms of the prospect pool. Only the players from the 2024 draft are who he knows, so players from past drafts he’ll need to do his research on to see if they could be used in the future. Ryšavý has effectively made his decision, so the other three will be on Waddell’s plate in the coming year.