inferno31 wroteCOLONReserve Lists
The list of players "belonging" to an NHL team is comprised of the following, the total of which may not exceed 80:
1. Pro players (maximum of 50)
2. Signed junior players (who have played less than 11 professional games)
3. Unsigned draft choices
4. Defected players (unsigned draft choices who are playing in Europe)
http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=26377
Thats the real rule is corresponds to. Any NHL team can only have 80 players total, 50 contracted.
We started lower, and were suppose to climb higher each year (as we had one draft then went on etc.)
I've been arguing it should be increasing by more, or just put it at that max that real NHL teams have as we mimic the rest. But so far this is the way we've decided to go, with small increasing increments yearly.
Going with this format wouldn't bother me at all if that's what we're working up to. We can essentially go with a 3-tiered roster...1. the active 20-23 with the NHL cap, 2. the remaining of the 50 in down the "minors" and 3. the remaining unsigned prospects on a strict reserve list. If a guy is signed to a contract, he moves off the reserve list and can be moved from the active roster and the minors as long as they fit the criteria of waiver-exemption or if they can clear waivers. A player can't go to back the reserve list once they have signed an NHL deal at one point in their career. (ie--Jaromir Jagr can't go back on reserve because he's had an NHL contract even though no NHL owns his rights)
We should also incorporate some sort of a term limit to holding a players rights on the reserve list. What's the usual rule in the NHL with unsigned draft picks? Do players go back in the draft after a year or two if they aren't signed? That to me would help move players off rosters if someone is hanging onto a guy for too long. If he has to re-enter the draft, you lose the rights to that guy or perhaps you just lose the rights to a guy after 2 or 3 years of being unsigned. I think we need to establish a limit to how long you can keep a prospect.
My thing is once a teams get up to 80 player limit...I don't want to hear any idea of moving up that rule because someone gets trade happy and has to many picks. Make a rule and put it in stone.