Prospects Pool

About this pool

Draft takes place two weeks before NHL June Entry Draft
6 rounds of drafting each year
GMs will draft 3 forwards, 2 defensemen, and 1 goalie each year
Maximum of 30 players per team. Extra players must be released.
Of the 30 players, GMs must have minimum of 3 goalies, 6 defensemen, and 9 forwards
Once a player has been released, he is removed from the pool and can not return.
In the possibility of a yet-to-be discussed expansion draft,
dialog would start involving current GMs regarding protecting certain players when the time is upon us.
Snake method, with the picking order tweaked in subsequent years with top half GMs picking in bottom half
GM finishing last one year may not necessarily have first pick the next year
Only regular season NHL points count towards standings

Trading [optional]

Limited trading allowed and is optional. GMs do not have to trade.
GMs are allowed up to one trade each year. The trade must be one for one and can be either players or draft picks
Each year will have 2 windows of trading consisting of 5 days each.
The 2 windows will be considered in the same year, so if a GM makes a trade in the first window, that GM can not trade in the second window
The windows are just before the Prospects Pool draft, and the NHL regular season
Future considerations will not be accepted.

Year 7 Specs

Draft order revealed on Draft Page

Normally, Draft Lottery to take place 3 hours before the NHL Draft Lottery.
This year, the Draft Lottery takes place on June 6 Thursday with the draft order revealed at 5:00 pm ET.
Draft starts on June 14 Friday 1:00 pm ET via emails (NHL draft begins June 28).
GMs may also send in a draft list instead if they so wish.
Players eligible for draft must be born between Jan. 1, 2004 and Sept. 15, 2006
In addition to the birth dates, players must not have played any games in the NHL.
Also, they must be eligible for this year's NHL Entry Draft

The 2 trading windows are :
June 8 Saturday 1:00 pm ET - June 13 Thursday 9:00 pm ET,
and September 25 Wednesday 1:00 pm ET - September 30 Monday 9:00 pm ET.
Player cuts start Tuesday October 1.
GMs have until October 3 Thursday 11:00 pm ET to finalize their cuts.
Reminder, once a player is cut, he can no longer re-enter the pool ( other GMs may not claim that player ).
Once a cut player has been submitted, the GM can not reverse their decision.
Regular season slated to start Friday October 4.

New GMs entering for Year 8
Note : No expansion for Year 7

Deadline for new GMs (Year 8) is May 5, 2025 Monday at 4:00 pm ET.
If a GM is joining for Year 8, the GM can do one of two things :
1) take over an existing team that has no GM
2) start a new team

If starting a new team, at present, the GM can select 24 players.
Each set of six players will be 3 forwards, 2 defensemen, and 1 goalie.
The selections should be made before the first trading window.
The first six players must be born between Jan. 1, 2001 and Sept. 15, 2003 (was eligible for the 2021 NHL Entry Draft)
The second set of six players must be born between Jan. 1, 2002 and Sept. 15, 2004 (was eligible for the 2022 NHL Entry Draft)
The third set of six players must be born between Jan. 1, 2003 and Sept. 15, 2005 (was eligible for the 2023 NHL Entry Draft)
The fourth set of six players must be born between Jan. 1, 2004 and Sept. 15, 2006 (was eligible for the 2024 NHL Entry Draft)
The twenty-four players must not have been drafted by any of the Prospects Pool GMs.
However, they can be already drafted by an NHL team.

Players from the 2024 Entry Draft :
--- allowed up to a maximum of 20 NHL games played for the 2024-25 season.

Players from the 2023 Entry Draft :
--- allowed up to a maximum of 20 NHL games played for the 2023-24 season.
--- allowed up to a maximum of 40 NHL games played for the 2024-25 season.

Players from the 2022 Entry Draft :
--- allowed up to a maximum of 20 NHL games played for the 2022-23 season.
--- allowed up to a maximum of 40 NHL games played for the 2023-24 season.
--- allowed up to a maximum of 60 NHL games played for the 2024-25 season.

Players from the 2021 Entry Draft :
--- allowed up to a maximum of 20 NHL games played for the 2021-22 season.
--- allowed up to a maximum of 40 NHL games played for the 2022-23 season.
--- allowed up to a maximum of 60 NHL games played for the 2023-24 season.
--- allowed up to a maximum of 82 NHL games played for the 2024-25 season.

Participating General Managers

Patrick Boschman
Stephen Crociata
Luc Dostie
Patrick Henri
Tracy Hill
Mike Hurlbert
Dan Sicignano
Mark Sikma
Victor Wong