NHL Free Agency: An Idiots Guide

NHL Free Agency: An Idiots Guide

The time has come once again for NHL Free Agency. And this is your guide to how free agency works…for dummys.

Important terms

Restricted free agent: An RFA is a player who is under 27 years old on June 30 and has fewer than 7 seasons in the league. An RFA can receive offers from other teams, but if their current team can match that offer within 7 days, they stay. If the current team cannot or does not match, the RFA is free to sign anywhere.

Unrestricted Free Agent: This is a player who is over 27 years old as of June 30 and has more than 7 seasons in the league. An unrestricted free agent can receive or sign offers from anyone, regardless of whether or not it is matched by their current team. They can accept less money from a new team if they so please.

Offer sheet: If another team is interested in an RFA, they have to submit an offer sheet. The current team has 7 days to match the offer sheet.

How it works:
Free agency isn’t just a free-for-all all across the league. Players whose contracts expire as of June 30th become free agents on July 1st (or the next business day).
The player and teams then begin negotiations of new terms, and the player can either sign or hear offers from other teams. Another team can submit an offer sheet at this time for an RFA. The current team then decides if they want to match that offer. If they do, the RFA re-signs with the current team. If they do not match, the RFA is welcome to sign with that new team. The team that lost the RFA due to not matching the offer receives a draft pick as compensation.

Unrestricted free agents can sign a maximum contract of 7 years whole RFAs can re-sign for a max of 8 years.

If contract terms cannot be agreed on by October, the player does not hit the ice until a new one is signed.

A player under contract cannot start negotiations until they are in the final year of their contract. For example, if a players contract expired June 30, 2026, they may begin negotiations on July 1, 2025. This is only the case for re-signing players. If a player intends to sign with a new team, they have to wait until the contact is fully expired.

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