Get ready for Free Agency with everything you need to know!
Category | RFA | UFA |
|---|---|---|
Eligibility | Under 27 years old or fewer than 7 accrued NHL seasons | 27+ years old or 7+ accrued NHL seasons |
Can sign with any team? | Only if another team submits an offer sheet | Yes, can freely sign with any team |
Can their team match the offer? | Yes, current team can match any offer sheet | No, team loses rights after contract expires |
Qualifying offer required? | Yes, must be made by deadline in order to retain rights | No |
Most recent salary | Required Qualifying Offer % |
|---|---|
$750k - $999k | 105% to maximum $1.0M |
$1.0M or more (Contract signed before July 2020) | 100% |
$1.0M or more (Contract signed after July 2020) | The lesser of:
|
Offer sheet AAV | Compensation |
|---|---|
$1,540,740 or less | No compensation |
$1,540,741 - $2,343,469 | One fifth round pick |
$2,343,470 - $4,686,937 | One third round pick |
$4,686,938 - $6,980,906 | One second round pick + two third round picks |
$6,980,907 - $9,275,964 | One first round pick + one second round pick + one third round pick |
$9,275,965 - $11,569,968 | Two first round picks + one second round pick + one third round pick |
Over $11,569,968 | Four first round picks |
Group | Eligibility criteria | Example |
|---|---|---|
Group 3 | Player is 27 years or older or has accrued 7+ NHL seasons. The most common type of UFA. | David Perron (Signed July 1, 2024: Perron was 36 and had played 17 NHL seasons) |
Group 4 | Player is 22 years or older, playing in Europe, and has never been drafted or signed by an NHL team. | Artem Zub (Signed May 1, 2020: Zub was 24, playing in Russia, and had never been drafted or signed by an NHL team) |
Group 6 | Player is 25 years or older, has played three or more professional seasons, and has played less than 80 NHL games (28 for goalies). | Garrett Pilon (Signed July 1, 2024: Pilon was 26, played six pro seasons, and three NHL games) |
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