For rookies in the NHL, there are several big milestones, first game, first goal, first assist etc. But for the management of those rookie’s teams, there are two milestones that are even more important than any other. The 10 games played mark, and the 42 games played mark.
The reasoning for this is slightly complicated but it’s important. When players are drafted in the NHL, the team who drafts them owns their rights, meaning no other NHL team can sign them. The length of time that a team owns a players rights is determined by where the player played prior to being drafted, it’s an odd system but it goes as follows.
If a player played college hockey in the US, (Troy Terry, Jimmy Vesey, Justin Schultz) the team who drafts them will retain their rights until 30 days after they leave college. If they do not sign with the team who drafts them, they become an unrestricted free agent, free to sign wherever they choose.
If a player played in Europe prior to being drafted, the team who drafts them will retain their rights for 4 years before they are a free agent.
And lastly, if a player played in the CHL, teams will own their rights for 2 years after they draft them before they become a UFA.