Report: CBA allows NHL teams to place one 19-year-old CHL player in AHL

The new NHL and NHLPA collective bargaining agreement, ratified on Tuesday, includes a provision allowing each NHL team to place one 19-year-old player from the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) into the American Hockey League (AHL) per season.

According to reports from insider Frank Seravalli, this new rule specifically excludes 18-year-old players. It is scheduled to take effect starting with the 2026-27 season when the new CBA officially begins.

This CHL/AHL placement rule is one of several reported provisions in the agreement. Other anticipated changes include increasing the NHL regular season schedule to 84 games, reducing the maximum contract length by one year, and implementing a playoff salary cap.