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An NHL goalie can usually be loaned to his club’s AHL affiliate without regular waivers only while he remains waiver-exempt. Once his exemption ends, the club generally must place him on regular waivers and let the claim process run before sending him down. Another NHL team can claim him during that process; if he clears, the club may make the AHL loan, subject to limits and other CBA rules.
What waivers mean for an NHL-to-AHL goalie move
Regular waivers are the NHL claim process connected to a club’s proposed loan of a player to a minor-league club. They are not the same as releasing a goalie outright, and they do not refer to an emergency backup appearing in a game.
The practical distinction is whether the goalie is still exempt. An exempt goalie can generally be loaned to the AHL without first being exposed to a claim. A waiver-eligible goalie generally must be placed on regular waivers before the loan. Another NHL club may claim him while the process is open. If no club claims him and he clears, his current club may loan him, subject to the limits below.
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Article 13.4 of the NHL/NHLPA agreement sets goalie exemption thresholds using age, time elapsed since signing an NHL Standard Player Contract (SPC), and NHL games played. NHL regular-season and playoff games count; AHL games do not count toward the listed games threshold. The applicable table entry must be matched to the goalie’s own history, so age or seasons alone do not settle the question.
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| Age category in the CBA table | Years from signing NHL SPC | NHL games threshold |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | 6 | 80 |
| 19 | 5 | 80 |
| 20 | 4 | 80 |
| 21 | 4 | 60 |
| 22 | 4 | 60 |
| 23 | 3 | 60 |
| 24 | 2 | 60 |
| 25 or older | 1 | No games threshold shown |
The agreement says, “The exemption from Regular Waivers ends immediately upon a Player playing in the number of NHL Games set forth in the applicable column above.” Reaching the applicable games threshold therefore ends the exemption immediately. The thresholds are contractual rules, not estimates of how often a goalie is claimed.
For an individual goalie, the relevant facts include his age category, NHL SPC signing date, NHL regular-season and playoff games, and transaction date. The applicable CBA and any effective memorandum of understanding also matter.
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What happens after a goalie is placed on waivers
- The club requests regular waivers. For an AHL loan of a waiver-eligible goalie, the club generally must place him on waivers during the playing-season waiver period.
- Other NHL clubs can claim him. If a claim is made, waiver priority determines which claiming club receives the player. The Carolina Hurricanes’ transaction primer summarizes priority as based on the prior-season record at the start of a season and the current record from November 1. The CBA and applicable league rules govern a specific claim.
- If he clears, the club may loan him. Clearance permits a possible AHL loan; it is not itself proof that the goalie has already been assigned.
The exact result depends on the applicable rules and the transaction. A club’s announcement that a goalie was placed on waivers identifies the proposed move, but does not establish whether he cleared, was claimed, or was ultimately assigned.
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Article 13.2 conditions a loan on regular waivers being requested and cleared during the playing-season waiver period. Following clearance, a player may be loaned only while he has played fewer than 10 cumulative NHL games and spent no more than 30 cumulative days on an NHL roster since that clearance. Article 13 also includes rules on waiver expiration and recalls, so a goalie’s recall and loan history can affect whether an earlier clearance still applies.
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To assess a later move, check the date and outcome of the last clearance, NHL games and roster days accumulated since then, the type of recall, and the transaction date’s governing agreement. A prior clearance is not an unlimited pass to move between the NHL and AHL.
A dated example: Cayden Primeau
On September 30, 2026, the Carolina Hurricanes announced that goalie Cayden Primeau had been placed on waivers for reassignment to the Chicago Wolves, the club’s AHL affiliate. The announcement illustrates a club using waivers for a proposed AHL assignment. That announcement alone does not establish the final claim outcome or provide all the facts needed to calculate Primeau’s waiver status.
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- CHROME-WELDED STEEL: Specially designed with a chrome-welded steel cage for premium protection during street-hockey games
- QUICK-SNAP STRAPS: This hockey helmet goes on and off smoothly in seconds, thanks to its easy-to-use quick-snap elastic straps
- BALL & STREET HOCKEY APPROVED: These hockey goalie masks are not HECC/CSA-certified and are only made for street-hockey play with a 2 ⅝” ball. Not certified for ice hockey or any other type of puck play
Which agreement governs a transaction
The NHL/NHLPA 2025 Memorandum of Understanding states that the new CBA took effect on September 16, 2026, and adopts the prior CBA except where modified. For a transaction on or after that effective date, read Article 13 together with the MOU and applicable league rules. The NHL lists the CBA and 2025 MOU among its governing documents.
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For a specific goalie, a reliable answer requires the individual eligibility and transaction history—not just the fact that he is a goalie or has played a certain number of AHL games.
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- DESIGNED FOR COMFORT: The adjustable backplate ensures a comfortable fit for any youth head size and makes this goalie helmet ideal for all street hockey players
- CHROME-WELDED STEEL: Specially designed with a chrome-welded steel cage for premium protection during street-hockey games
- QUICK-SNAP STRAPS: This hockey helmet goes on and off smoothly in seconds, thanks to its easy-to-use quick-snap elastic straps
- BALL & STREET HOCKEY APPROVED: These hockey goalie masks are not HECC/CSA-certified and are only made for street-hockey play with a 2 ⅝” ball. Not certified for ice hockey or any other type of puck play
Sources
- NHL/NHLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement, Article 13
- 2025 NHL/NHLPA Memorandum of Understanding
- NHL governing documents
- Carolina Hurricanes transaction primer
- Carolina Hurricanes announcement, September 30, 2026
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