Explaining the NHL's Waiver Wire System

This is a topic which throws off new fans, but there are times where I am not aware of who is or isn't eligible for waivers.
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Shannon Skanes
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[@brooke-3615]

I bet that black eye makes role playing a hockey player with Yvonne much more convincing

[@JamieAtSLC]

the safe word is zamboni.

[@brooke-3615]

Fifty Shades of Powerplay

[@markys77vette1]

I love it

[@jacobeberhardt1649]

Yoooo that's wild lol

[@nolanthemlgpro6262]

Jacob Eberhardt Minnesota Wild

[@maxd8410]

Really informative actually, I had no idea it was this complicated

[@dudecory080]

I'm so glad I found this video as a fan that is just getting back into hockey. Contacts, salaries, waivers, ect. is all very confusing to me, and this helps. Thank you!

[@ed781]

I'm a simple man, I see THG upload...I click the like button

[@danielsteigerwald26]

me too

[@patch8376]

me three

[@kakarroto007]

yep.

[@skateordiedev]

everyone should like and comment as much as they can possibly remember to keep this great channel growing

[@stevecampbell9670]

Could Gary being a lawyer have anything to do with the rules being so complicated?

[@jacobeberhardt1649]

Steve Campbell *gasp* It was Bettman all along!

[@stevecampbell9670]

Nice. Quality callback.

[@Nickleblanc41]

Steve Campbell most waivers rules are actually from the PA to give all possible chance to older players to stay in the league

[@AD-poop_]

Can you talk about Jan Kovar signing with New York Islanders?

[@joshmakeshift]

i think a cool idea for a vid is a way to circumvent the cap, with waivers, LTIR, bridge contracts, sending guys down and bringing them back lower paid.... and can a team buyout a player and resign them later for less money?

[@THGWICKED50CAL]

Can you please do a video on the Islanders signing Jan Kovar?

[@goldenjedi9990]

Wow. The whole waivers process is quite the ordeal...

[@jaedarz8790]

Thanks for explaining, I never understood it. I think I'll get it more as I pay more attention to those things. I hope this a series that continues - my sister wants to get into hockey too and I can't explain these things as well as you can!

[@rsuninv]

Nice shiner. What happens in Vegas......

[@jimburden5113]

rsuninv Finally Shannon looks like fourth line goon.. Lol

[@wonderingwayne3480]

What happens in Vegas gets uploaded to KZbin.

[@willreece7392]

That black eye makes you look like a real tough hockey player!

[@canadiencreative]

that is a NICE vegas hat

[@BryanVGK23]

Alex Higgins agreed. Looked online can’t find it anywhere

[@Leafsfan91]

Thank you for clearing this up. I am 27 been watching my whole life. Never understood waivers. Never understood the difference between fee agency and waivers. I always thought it was free agency throughout the Year, didn't understand the pecking order

[@shaedonshergill3162]

THG can you explain Buyout Proof Contracts

[@Joseph-kd2gy]

Its basically a situation where the majority of the actual money is in signing bonus. Signing bonuses have to be paid in full regardless if the player is bought and is calculated in the cap hit. So buying those players out doesn't do much to reduce the cap hit..John Tavares and Connor McDavid have "buyout proof" contracts, check cap friendly

[@shaedonshergill3162]

Joseph so even Lucic and Erikkson?

[@Joseph-kd2gy]

I would say so. Buying those out doesn't save much cap space.

[@RiotnRespect]

Pretty much what Joseph said haha. Basically you’re guaranteeing the player most of the money anyway and he has to be paid that certain amount so buying the contract out is almost pointless

[@Nickleblanc41]

When Jim Benning take his phone on free agency...

[@concerts4life100]

Martin Brodeur was an emergency call up from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in 1991-1992 when both Terreri & Billington went down with injuries. In 2008-2009, Martin Brodeur tore his bicep muscle in his catching arm, Devils called up Scott Clemenson and he was on fire 🔥 When Brodeur came back from the injury later in the season, the Devils had to send Clemensson back to the minors vs. keeping him as a backup goalie because the goaltending roster was set at the beginning of the year of Martin Brodeur & Kevin Weeks. What some Devils fans did not understand at the time was if Clemensson stayed up in New Jersey, he would have to clear waivers because he was an emergency call up and the Devils did not want to lose that awesome talent, so they sent him back to the minors in order to keep him in the organization. In no way did the Devils want teams like the NY Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers or Pittsburgh Penguins stealing a blue chip goaltender from their organization.

[@JHockeyFan]

THG, please explain (or make a vid on) the waiver draft that the Islanders picked Osgood up in 2001. Seemed weird when I read about it on Wiki.

[@hockeyfan1777]

Wow. I was anticipating a video explaining something like how icing works or the difference between a major and minor penalty. I’ve followed hockey most of my life and I didn’t know over 95% of this.

[@jarodbleijerveld]

Tampa had a weird situation this season with goalies. Budaj had sole weird conditioning stint. Was gonna ask but you talked about it

[@brianli0987]

When I was a kid, I was imagining players waving to other teams to see if they want them cause they just got ditched.

[@PancakesAndHammers2426]

I learned something new! See, this is why I watch and listen.

[@kylestoddart]

Great video Shannon. I mostly sorta understand but it's very difficult to explain. Esp when you make a video such as you did where people can't ask questions while you speak....As for me to understand. You have to clear waivers before being bought out? and I didn't know all of this. Such as if you already waived a player and then that team puts same player on waivers at a later point that original team gets first crack. I always assumed waivers was just an attempt to keep players in NHL. As I thought waiver players were mostly 1 way contract players who want to be sent to farm team. So every other team has a chance to grab him before sent down. It is more complicated than should be lololol Great Video.

[@BryanVGK23]

Where did you find that knights secondary logo hat? I’ve never seen that one. Love it. Would be nice to see a third jersey like that

[@answeris4217]

Bryan M - Probably Vegas... Call them the Golden knights... The knights is a OHL team I think Travares played for them...

[@tonghale163]

Wait,when did the waiver system start in the NHL?

[@SpeedandSplendor]

I think this is a good video for you to update with your new setup. 👍

[@lightsandsounds6905]

I'm a newer hockey fan and I was wondering if you could do a video explaining the contract issues surrounding draftees from the ncaa. The announcers at the draft mentioned it a few times and I'm not sure how that works. Is it similar to the waiver system? BTW thanks for this vid! I learned a bunch!

[@Brandon-qd2lb]

Can you explain how buying out a player works? It doesn’t affect the teams cap for the next season?

[@angelodaconceicao5269]

Canucks lou Erickson? BUY OUT

[@ddipaola]

I just subscribed cause of the black eye! It better be a good reason like I took a puck to the face! love the channel

[@darrenb5980]

The Hockey Guy sporting a black eye. That is dedication Shannon. lol

[@WindyCityHawkey]

Nice Golden Knights Hat

[@DeAngelo77]

I thought the European player needs to clear waivers if the team wants to send him to the AHL, not to join the NHL.

[@FreeJaffa92]

So what happens after someone clears wavers? That is what salaries are retained by which teams in wavers ?

[@sirwaffles5280]

The caps waived Nathan walker at one point this year. Edmonton picked him up, he played a couple games and got waived again and the caps got him back. Interesting how things work out considering he had that big assist against the pens in game 6

[@weatheredtome]

Did you get the hat while in Vegas? If so, where did you pick it up?

[@mickdonalds2286]

So when Panarin came into the league he went on the waiver wire and no one took him? Or did Chicago claim him from another team?

[@TheSportsFan91]

Mick Donalds I believe he signed in the off-season when that rule doesn’t apply.

[@mickdonalds2286]

SportsFan91 Oh yeah, forgot that only applied after season starts.

[@REAPER-1xxx]

Helpful.

[@aaronhockey8803]

It happens in the NBA too

[@stevenohlhoff1157]

I never would have sat through the explanation if it wasn't you bud. I was blissfully ignorant of the process till now. Thanks for the info though.

[@irvinepoker3187]

I remember Redwings signing Nabokov back from KHL and Islanders ending up claiming him. was looking forward to seeing him in Detroit.

[@kaylaeastty5828]

I had no idea how that the waiver system was this difficult. And I have been a fan my hole life (yes I’m young)

[@acanadianineurope814]

Oh, that's a nice little shiner. :)

[@gmtv6710]

I swear THG could make a video about paint drying and I would still watch it XD

[@MC-bh3ff]

outstanding vid feel alot smarter! :)

[@wonderingwayne3480]

Is waiver eligibility the Number of years AND number of games or whichever comes first?

[@jeremydanchuk1897]

@thg were there any changes to this with the new CBA?

[@Unfortunat3S0n]

Who’s in the thumbnail of this video? I’m a Rangers fan and I’m blanking on his name. I’m just curious

[@Miller2537]

Waivers USED to be a relatively simple process. Most of the time people were waived because a team had maxed out its roster size and wanted to bring another player up. Then the team would waive a player with a one-way contract to send him down. Now we have all of these BS rules because of the damn salary cap. Originally GMs would waive players to clear their cap hits off the books. And if another team claimed him, then they were responsible for 100% of the contract anyway...... And GMs have been cheesing the rules ever since.....

[@arcadelinkauthor]

I returned to hockey after about a decade of falling off and focusing on other things, (obviously it helps that the Canucks stopped performing around that time). In the last 2 years of becoming more obsessed ith hockey than I ever was before, it's become painfully clear that the NHL is run by the likes of Larry, Curly and Moe. The sheer ineptitude I see from the league really makes me want to give up on the sport entirely. -This absurd waiver system. Which is so much worse than I thought. -Refusing to effectively punish violent players. (Not to mention seeing teams make some of the most -violent players their captains, Boston, Dallas. Their carreers should be over.) -The league not wanting to expand into markets that can clearly support them, but would rather risk failing in Atlanta and Arizona over and over. (I don't fault them for wanting to enter new markets like the rumored SLC and Houston, to gain new fans, but the league also needs to function as a business and businesses go where there is money.) -Establishing the most complicated rules possible, making the game impossible for newcomers to understand. -Allowing officials to just not call obvious penalties. And allowing them to adhere to rules at their own whim. Sure some calls are missed. But when every offical just stops calling penalties at the end of the season, thats a concious decision to not do their job.

[@dylanebers8017]

Once you get back home can you do a video comparing and contrasting Joe Sakic and Steve Yzerman but not just their careers as players but also as general managers

[@answeris4217]

Simple... Not even close. Isn't there a maximum for players to be sent back to the juniors too. It's super complicated along with what constitute a rookie season and not. Like Roy won his first cup and then he played his rookie season.

[@andrewr7982]

When a team claims a player off waivers do they take on their current contract or negotiate a new contract?

[@seaner6702]

Bojo David keep the current

[@TwoPyramid]

How did you learn about how all of this works?

[@francoisvezina405]

How about right to arbitration? RFA? UFA? When do they get it?

[@dawsoniezen]

capfriendly.com/arbitration-calculator UFAs will never get arbitration because arbitration is for when a team has a player's rights, but cannot agree to a contract with their player. Arbitration is a horrible thing because the team often will try and prove how shit a player is so they don't have to pay them as much, even if they like the player, because the contract is decided by the third party. Players will sometimes request arbitration from their team to light a fire under the GM's ass if the GM is "taking too long" Also players like William Karlsson will request arbitration because they know that the GM will offer low and say that 43 goals is a one off, but in arbitration they will get a big payday because they had 43 goals

[@answeris4217]

That's an other semi complicated formula with age and when you entered the league. I think RFA with a qualified offer sheet get rights to arbitration. A UFA is not associated to any team. They are free agents. I am pretty sure teams usually offer a second contract to keep players under RFA as long as they can and it really limits the earning power of young players.

[@ItsAlpacaMan]

I’d like to know more about guys or contracts buried in the AHL

[@havokan45]

Shannon i used to know how to get the Goalies GAA when i was in High School the one paper had how you do it but i havent used it in years so i forgot

[@Drknnja]

Joe Fisher GAA # of goals ÷ number of games (60mins). So a goalie that is pulled after letting in 4 goals in the first 15 mins will have, a 16.00 GAA.

[@paulsmith5563]

Hey hockey guy I guess you forgot to duck nice shiner. 👍👓

[@Waders27]

The offer sheet Calgary made for Ryan O'Reilly was only $10 million over 2 years

[@patrickedgington5827]

So you take a guy like Brouwer you might not want to buy him out because you have to spread the cap hit out over more years what I don't understand is why they don't stick him in the A. He doesn't have a no move you save a bit of money on the cap plus open a spot for a player. Am I wrong why isn't he going to Stockton?

[@3HDproduction]

Did panarin come over through waivers?

[@nottherealjaymckee3383]

It's actually 30 days while being on a pro roster not after clearing waivers if they are in the minors 2 months after clearing they are waiver exempt till thy spend 30 days on the pro roster or play 10 games

[@smeggie42]

I never knew all the numbers but i just think of wavers as trying to keep nhl level players in the nhl instead of in the minors

[@captiankirkgames4385]

Waivers scare when sending someone down pit dose

[@Marsipaanimies91]

Why Ryan O' Reilly would have needed to go through waivers in order to join a new team?

[@mikeJones-zo8si]

So take a team like the canucks for example , who has to clear waivers if they don’t make the team ? Virtanen ? Leipsic, gauance , gaudette , boeser ? That’s why you sign the veterans and keep the rookies down until injuries occur .

[@mikeJones-zo8si]

Yes so project their starting roster and who may be put on waivers and who may start in the minors. Don’t they have to put Dorset on there so they can put him on ltir right after.

[@stpierreorama]

I'm from Montreal but grew up in the metro Detroit area. I've always wanted Montreal to win and they are the team I will always cheer for but I wish they were more like the RedWings. It would be nice if Montreal was amazing with some french Canadian super stars like Claude Giroux or Patrice Bergeron. Detroit has been such a likeable team to watch throuhout my lifetime. With players like Lidstrom, Yzerman, Zetterburg and Datsyuk. consistent and fun to watch up until recently. Montreal is a constant shit show. I still love em though and will always cheer for Montreal but they are an increasingly difficult team to cheer for. I don't even hate Bergeron as much as most. I have to say though I like Domi, he is so positive. I think he'll be great for the city and far from hitting his ceiling. He has potential and if they can aquire some key pieces I think they'll be fine in a few years. Time will tell...

[@kylestoddart]

sorry to double comment. but what logo is that hat. duh i cant figure it out lololol

[@SteeleZack]

Gary Bettman "why make the rules simple do we want other leagues copying us?"

[@yannickperreault8389]

i knew the waivers process was complicated, it's actually more complicated than i thought.

[@jasondubbin9522]

troy brouwer could be placed on waviers for buyout

[@chuck2469]

Holy eff Shannon first comment brah im sitting here chilling just appreciating the fuck out of your content i dont like to sincerely comment but your legit. Mad props. Hate the Bruins and the moon isnt real and of course #john316 much love

[@DanielDK909]

I wish Detroit would buyout Abdelkader. That contract is bad, and we still have Larkin and Mantha to be signed.

[@JoeyJordison97]

😊

[@daledemanchuk7920]

when nabakov came back to nhl and cut a deal with detroit he was claimed by nyi and then they tried to trade his rights to detroit they said no thanks then he sat out because he didnt want to play in ny and islanders suspended him? he ended up playing a few seasons for them following that mess lol

[@rodchallis8031]

Now do "Robidas Island".

[@Mr.Thermistor7228]

the rule about clearing waivers from signing a guy after the season starts seems so unfair and just stuipid i dont understand it one bit why is it even a rule?

[@jacobeberhardt1649]

This is why you need a fucking lawyer as commissioner.

[@chughater]

Lit

[@killhouse6130]

Man that’s pretty ridiculous

[@aramondehasashi3324]

I hated when teams would claim my players off waivers in NHL games.

[@mcdaviddeservesbetter8]

The Burger King jersey is inhumane.

[@Blackened4everPS3]

How come soccer has a universal system, that every team uses for players, but hockey doesnt? They should just use the loan/release clause/buy system that soccer uses. It would make it a lot better imo.

[@Blackened4everPS3]

Immediately after commenting this i realized, there is LOADS more money in soccer, compared to hockey. Disregard my comment.

[@answeris4217]

David Papais -There's also loads of competing elite leagues and teams get knocked out of elite leagues. Soccer to me is complicated. There's only one NHL there isn't an other true elite league in hockey. The KHL exist but nobody is calling them as a real competitor to the NHL. In soccer there's multiple leagues and there's also a champions league on top of it where all the elite teams from elite leagues play for the Champions League trophy and everything is scheduled in funny ways with interlacing international play.

[@Krokodilius]

should probably waive leivo at this point.

[@TheEmpressMouse]

Val Nichushkin have to go on waivers? KHL to NHL DAL then back to KHL then back to NHL DAL and then to COL. ?

[@getsilenced3434]

Shannon... The eye what th happ

[@justindsouza2698]

he was playing ball hockey.

[@rmyoung87]

IDK why people think waivers is complicated. Baseball has a similar system. Just wait till you try to explain rule 5 picks....

[@TheSportsFan91]

Lol :)

[@HH-gk5pg]

rmyoung87 He directly stated it was for new fans man

[@johnfarr2738]

Yeah mlb’s waivers are similar

[@MIchaelMiii]

you realize there is a 'Lids' in the Excaliber...Im serious..

[@R1inVIC]

Hey Shannon does a goalie get credit for a game played even if they sat on the bench as a backup?

[@CKr14]

I know this is late and you most likely figured it out but no they don't

[@voltage7468]

It's much easier in NHL 18

[@danielsteigerwald26]

What does it mean to be buried in the minors?

[@jdshark6834]

It pretty much means that the player is stuck and will continue to be stuck in the minors for a long period of time (or even his whole career) because he's not good enough for the NHL.

[@chad_b]

When teams bury a contract in the minors 1.025 million comes off the cap hit. That's why they say contracts under 1 million are easily buried

[@stevecampbell9670]

I've been playing with the Canucks lineup and I can't make it work without two forwards and two dmen moving. That is assuming Petterson, Hughes and Juolevi make the team. Something has to give here.

[@lemonapocalypse414]

That jersey is an abomination

[@Mr.Thermistor7228]

the most beautiful ugly jersey