Undrafted Free Agents

Ever sine watching the WJC and finding out that Martin Jones was signed by the Kings as a 19 year old free agent I have been sort of miffed as to how that Is possible. I understand what happens with the undrafted juniors, but I thought they didn’t become free agents until they were out f contract with their junior team at age 20. Can anyone shed a little more light on this, and on the process as a whole?

~MFP2

Same thing with Jacob Muzzin (SSM) - also signed with the Kings.

Michael Fisher Portnoy II wrote:Ever sine watching the WJC and finding out that Martin Jones was signed by the Kings as a 19 year old free agent I have been sort of miffed as to how that Is possible. I understand what happens with the undrafted juniors, but I thought they didn’t become free agents until they were out f contract with their junior team at age 20. Can anyone shed a little more light on this, and on the process as a whole?

~MFP2

Apparently, it's an exception permitted in section 8.9(b)(ii) of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Here's the text of it.

Section 8.9 of the CBA outlines Eligibility for Play in the League. Part (b) deals with players that were unclaimed in a draft. Section (ii) deals with players under the age of 20.

8.9 Eligibility for Play in the League. No Player shall be eligible for play in the League unless he:

(b) had been eligible for claim in the last Entry Draft, but was unclaimed, and:

(ii) had played hockey in North America the prior season and was under age 20 at the time of the last Entry Draft, and signed an SPC which was signed and registered with the League between the conclusion of the Entry Draft and commencement of the Major Juniors season (except that if such Player had signed an NHL tryout form, which was signed and registered with the League during the aforesaid time period, then the deadline for signing and registering with the League an SPC with such try-out Club shall be the commencement of the NHL Season).

I think the key is the timing of the signing - between the conclusion of the Entry Draft and the commencement of the Major Juniors season.

Interesting.

Nice - thanks Shabbs

No problem. You can thank Google.

i guess i just didn't google the right thing

Another part of it is if a player is passed over in two entry drafts.

Too lazy to find the section in the CBA, but it's there somewhere.

Michael Fisher Portnoy II wrote:i guess i just didn't google the right thing

I am the KING of Google.